Motor Racing: Williams pick Senna and Hill

AYRTON SENNA and Damon Hill will be confirmed on Monday as the Williams- Renault drivers for next season. The pairing is to be made official in announcements at the team's factory, at Didcot, Oxfordshire, and in Brazil, writes Derick Allsop.

The way was cleared for Williams to retain Hill and Senna, the three-times world champion, when Alain Prost announced his retirement at the Portuguese Grand Prix a fortnight ago, a race which was to secure the Frenchman his fourth title.

Hill, in his first full season of Formula One, has given Prost excellent support and demonstrated his developing capabilities with a hat-trick of wins, in Hungary, Belgium and Italy. His performances have even exceeded the expectations of his admirers in the camp and they have urged the team's principal, Frank Williams, to take up the option on his services for next year.

Senna and Williams have long talked about joining forces but, for various reasons, have never quite done so - until now. Senna, who has had six seasons with McLaren, believes Williams will again have the car to beat next season and is already firm favourite for the 1994 championship.