Jack Aitken is to make an FIA Formula 2 Championship return at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix for HWA Racelab, replacing Matteo Nannini.
The Williams Formula 1 development driver will also take part in the following round at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku next month, scene of his sole feature race victory in 2019, after Nannini decided to step down from the championship due to sponsorship issues. The team have not yet confirmed who will take over the seat for the remaining rounds.
Aitken also won three sprint races during a three-year spell in F2 with ART Grand Prix and Campos, before making his F1 debut at last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix – replacing George Russell at Williams. This year he has moved into GT racing, racing a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 car for Emil Frey Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe.
Nannini initially planned to run dual campaigns in both F2 and FIA Formula 3 this year for the team, but will now focus solely on F3. The Italian finished ninth in the second sprint race and 10th in the following day’s feature race during F2’s opening round in Bahrain last month and scored a podium finish at the F3 season-opener in Barcelona.
“I was surprised but also very honoured that HWA asked me to support the team in Monaco and Baku,” said Aitken, who will partner Alessio Deledda at the team.
“They are two of my favourite circuits and it is going to be a real pleasure! I know HWA from races in the past, in which we have competed against each other. I have always been aware of their high standard. I am looking forward to returning to Formula 2 and working with HWA, in order to get the absolute maximum out of the two weekends.”
“We are delighted to have acquired such a talented driver as Jack,” added team principal Thomas Strick.
“With his wealth of experience in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, he is sure to be a great help to us. In the case of Matteo, we will be focussing on the FIA Formula 3 Championship for the rest of the season. He has already shown his potential in that series at the start of the season.
“We now want to develop that potential and offer Matteo the best possible support on the rest of his career path. It is now important for him to continuously develop with regular successes. We feel this is the right step to sustainably develop and support him in the current phase of his promising career.”
Featured image credit: fiaformula2.com
