Aitken takes on F1 reserve driver role with Williams

Jack Aitken has taken on a reserve driver position with the Williams Formula 1 team following his split from Renault.

The 24-year-old Briton announced on Monday that he was ending his association with Renault after four years at the French manufacturer, in which he had acted as reserve and test driver having graduated from the Renault Sport Academy.

In his new role at Williams, Aitken will attend all 22 races during the 2020 season and carry out simulator work, while he will also make his F1 free practice debut in the team’s FW43 challenger at a yet-to-be-announced grand prix.

“It is a great honour to join ROKiT Williams Racing as their reserve driver for the 2020 season,” Aitken said.

“Williams is a team with strong heritage, and continued longevity, and I’m looking forward to directly contributing to their development through my simulator and testing work.”

Aitken, who was runner-up to current Williams driver George Russell in the 2017 GP3 standings, joins the Grove squad off the back of a fifth-place finish in the Formula 2 Championship after claiming three victories for the Campos Racing team.

It is not yet clear whether Aitken will return to race in F2 for a third season alongside his new F1 commitments with Williams, where he joins Roy Nissany, Dan Ticktum and W Series champion Jamie Chadwick in the team’s roster of test and development drivers.

Deputy team principal Claire Williams added: “It is obvious from what Jack has achieved so far he is a young driver with a great career ahead of him and we believe he has the right credentials to reach the top in the sport.

“Jack has proved his ability in FIA Formula 2 and GP3 and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve as the team’s Official Reserve Driver.”