Aitken: 'Less chance of progressing at Renault thanks to a certain Fernando'

Formula 2 driver Jack Aitken was last year's test and reserve driver at Renault and made the switch to Williams for 2020. A decision that many wouldn't describe as 'progress', especially considering the fact that Daniel Ricciardo is leaving the French team at the end of this season. However, Aitken thinks that this is exactly why he made the right decision.

"I'd like to say that I've seen something like this coming for the most part. So I'm not shocked that Daniel left," says the young Brit in conversation with RACER.com. A lot of young drivers would probably hope that in such a case there is a place for them in the F1 team, but Aitken thinks Renault already has someone in mind.

"I think their next move is more the reason why I'm happy to stick with my guns. I'm just not sure that they [Renault] are necessarily as invested in their junior programme as the junior drivers might hope".

No long-term future at Renault

"I felt there was less chance of progress there. There are a lot of rumors about a certain Fernando sniffing around... If they brought someone like that in, it wouldn't surprise me - they seem to need a bit of a team leader - and I would think: 'Well, what's the point of being here?'"

So Aitken doesn't think he can compete with Alonso in battle for the seat at Renault, but it's not the only reason he's happy to drive at Williams. According to him the future of Renault in Formula 1 is by no means certain. A manufacturer stays in F1 as long as the parent company sees the advantage of it. Williams is essentially an F1 team and will therefore never leave the sport voluntarily.