The union of formula one drivers, the GPDA, revealed in Korea last weekend their push for more influence in the sport’s decision-making processes.

According to the German magazine Speed Week, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association – now headed by president Rubens Barrichello – met at the Yeongam circuit with FIA president Jean Todt.

“We want a permanent dialogue with the governing body,” Brazilian Barrichello, accompanied to the meeting by fellow GPDA directors Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa, is quoted as saying.

According to another German language report in motorline.cc, Barrichello and his colleagues believe some of the problems in Korea – like troublesome kerbs and the dangerous pit entry – would not have been encountered if the drivers were more seriously canvassed.

“It was ok,” Barrichello said after the meeting with Todt.

“We discussed three or four things and he was very open. All we want is for the GPDA to be able to contribute more to the future of the sport,” he added.

Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff has admitted he might increase his minority stake in the Williams team to 49 per cent in the future.

It emerged last week that, alongside founders and long-time owners Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head, the stake bought by Austrian entrepreneur Wolff in 2009 was 10 per cent.

“I can confirm it is 10 per cent,” he is quoted by the German-language motorline.cc.

“But I have an option to increase my minority stake to a strategic investment.”

The publication said Wolff’s share could increase to as much as 49 per cent, also quoting him as saying he would consider exercising the option “in time”.

But he rejected British reports that the Oxfordshire based team is in financial trouble and struggling with losses and debt.

“If you look at the last 12 months, 2009 for us was a good and very profitable year,” Wolff insisted.

With just three races left to run in his rookie season, Nico Hulkenberg admits he is still yet to sign a new contract for 2011.

It is believed that while Williams has secured the services of veteran Rubens Barrichello for another year, the Grove based team is looking seriously at the $15 million in sponsorship offered by Hulkenberg’s successor as GP2 champion, the Venezualan Pastor Maldonado.

That would leave 23-year-old German Hulkenberg without a seat, despite arriving on the F1 grid just seven months ago with arguably a more impressive formative racing record than Lewis Hamilton.

“I’m doing my job and I’m confident about what I’m doing,” he is quoted by the German-language Speed Week.

“I cannot do more.  I would like to stay with Williams because I believe next year’s car will be competitive, because I feel comfortable in the team and get along with my teammate very well.

“I’m hoping for a new contract,” added Hulkenberg.

But the British tabloid The Sun believes dramatically that the ‘Hulk is facing incredible axe’, with Force India’s Adrian Sutil also linked with his seat and reportedly offering $3m in backing.

Another report in the Evening Standard recently said Williams’ combined losses in the past five years amount to more than $9 million, with profits falling 50 per cent last year on top of millions in debt.

Williams’ minority co-owner Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff is known to be a keen Hulkenberg supporter, but he admits the team’s driver situation is presently in the air.

“At the moment everything is possible — we are currently trying to get as much information as possible,” he said in an interview with motorline.cc.

“Generally speaking, the team is making great progress,” added Austrian Wolff.

Williams could be set to supply its hydraulic systems to F1′s small new formula one teams.

This year, new entrants Lotus, Virgin and HRT have been using the FIA-arranged standard hydraulics system supplied by Xtrac.

But the systems have proved problematic and unreliable, and it is believed Lotus is designing its own hydraulics for 2011.

And the German-language motorline.cc claims that Williams, the famous independent British team that is also powered by Cosworth engines, could be an option for the other new teams next year.

“We have been asked, and we have agreed,” technical director Sam Michael is quoted as confirming.

He did not, however, reveal the names of Williams’ new hydraulic systems customers.