F1 News

Aitken in the clouds: "I feel like I've been ready since Melbourne"

2 December 2020 at 07:49
Last update 2 December 2020 at 09:17
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  • GPblog.com

Jack Aitken gets the chance of a lifetime and will make his Formula 1 debut this weekend. Aged 25, the Brit is no longer the youngest in Formula 2, but his move from Renault to Williams has now borne fruit.

Aitken in the clouds

Aitken has been one of the bigger talents for years, but after titles in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 2.0 Alps and the Pro Mazda Winterfest in 2015, Aitken never managed to win another title. In the GP3 he came close with a second place in 2017, but the move to Formula 2 was not a success.

''I'm really excited to make my debut at Williams this weekend and I'm very happy that George will get his chance too! I really mean it when I say that I have felt very much at home here since I joined Williams earlier this year, so to have my chance to help the team try to achieve those elusive points is a very satisfying opportunity to say the least. I'll do everything I can to prepare in the next few days, but frankly, I feel like I've been ready since Melbourne,'' Aitken said in Williams' press release.

Williams sees a win-win

The team boss of Williams, Simon Roberts, is also very happy with the arrival of Aitken. ''Our long term partnership and George's connection to Mercedes is no secret, so I am delighted that George has this unique opportunity to join Mercedes. We have worked hard to ensure that an agreement could be reached with Mercedes to give him this fantastic opportunity. George is still a Williams driver and we look forward to him coming back to us this weekend with a fresh look and wish him a successful race.

''We are also delighted to be able to give another British talent at Jack Aitken the chance to make his Formula One racing debut. Jack joined Williams at the start of the season, and despite the limitations of COVID-19, which means we haven't been able to do as much with him as we'd like, he has quickly become a much-loved member of the team. We look forward to seeing him build on his previous experience of driving the car in practice, to see what he can do in a qualifying and racing situation," Roberts concludes.