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Williams Racing can confirm that
Jack Aitken will race in this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix alongside Nicholas
Latifi. The 25-year-old takes the place of the team’s regular race driver
George Russell, whom the team has released to drive for the Mercedes-AMG
Petronas F1 Team in Bahrain with Lewis Hamilton unable to race due to a
positive COVID-19 test.
Aitken is currently the team’s Reserve Driver and will now make his Formula
One debut at the penultimate round of the 2020 season. Aitken is no stranger
to the FW43, having taken part in an FP1 session earlier in the season at
the Styrian Grand Prix. Alongside his Reserve Driver duties, Aitken has been
competing in FIA Formula 2 this year, scoring two podiums and eight other
points finishes.
George Russell said: “Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to everybody
at Williams for giving me this opportunity. I might be wearing a different
race suit this weekend, but I’m a Williams driver and I’ll be cheering my
team on every step of the way. I see this as a great chance to learn from
the best outfit on the grid right now and to come back as an improved
driver, with even more energy and experience to help push Williams further
up the grid. A big thank you also to Mercedes for putting their faith in me.
Obviously, nobody can replace Lewis, but I'll give my all for the team in
his absence from the moment I step in the car. Most importantly, I wish him
a speedy recovery. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and can’t
wait to get out on track this week.”
Jack Aitken commented: “I’m absolutely over the moon to have the opportunity
to make my debut with Williams this coming weekend and I am extremely happy
for George to have his chance too! I really mean it when I say I’ve felt
very much at home here since I joined Williams earlier this year, so to get
my chance to help the team try to achieve that elusive points finish is an
extremely satisfying occasion to say the least. I’ll be doing all I can to
prepare in the coming days, but truthfully, I feel like I have been ready
since Melbourne. I also want to wish Lewis well in his recovery, and good
luck to George getting the chance to drive the Mercedes this weekend.”
Acting Team Principal, Simon Roberts added: “Our long-term partnership and
George’s affiliation with Mercedes is no secret, and so I’m delighted George
has this unique opportunity to join Mercedes, the current Constructors’
Champions. We have been working hard to ensure that an agreement could be
made with Mercedes to allow him this fantastic opportunity. George very much
remains a Williams driver and we look forward to him returning to us fresh
from this experience and wish him a successful race this weekend.
“We are also thrilled this means we are able to give another British talent
in Jack Aitken the opportunity to make his Formula One race debut. Jack
joined Williams at the start of this season, and despite COVID-19
restrictions meaning we haven’t been able to interact with him as much as we
would like, he has quickly become a much-liked member of the team. We look
forward to seeing him build on his previous experience driving the car in
practice, to see what he can do in a qualifying and race situation.” |
