Williams excited about new driver pairing
Williams will have a new driver pairing for 2005 -- presuming the Jenson Button saga is resolved in its favour -- and technical director Sam Michael said the team is excited about the prospect. Williams has been a little lacklustre this year, ...
Williams will have a new driver pairing for 2005 -- presuming the Jenson Button saga is resolved in its favour -- and technical director Sam Michael said the team is excited about the prospect. Williams has been a little lacklustre this year, perhaps partly because its two current drivers are leaving at the end of the season. But Michael is looking forward to fresh motivation with Button and Mark Webber in 2005.
"I think Mark and Jenson will be a fantastic combination, and that's why we're excited about having them next year -- they're both big motivators," he said in an interview with AtlasF1.
Both men have a few years in F1 under their belts; Button debuted with Williams in 2000 and Webber with Minardi in 2002. The pair have also worked together before, when Button was driving for Benetton in 2001 and Webber was the team test driver.
"They know how Formula One works and what they have to do to push and win and it's something that we're looking forward to starting as soon as possible -- they're very much WilliamsF1 type drivers," said Michael.
The pairing of Button and Webber is anticipated to be one of the most competitive on the grid in 2005 -- and the competition between the two is expected to be intense. They have both said they are pleased to be working together in the future but there will be no shortage of rivalry.
"Jenson and Mark have both already supported each other and said 'this guy is the best team-mate I could have'," added Michael. "I don't expect them to be mates and go to the cinema together or anything like that, but I'm sure they will be fiercely competitive."
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
How drivers need to multi-task in the high-tech world of modern endurance racing
Why Button is embarking on his new challenge in the WEC
Acura’s Daytona 24h hopes hit by Albuquerque stoppage
Albon worried about Williams F1 spares "before I even hit the wall"
Albon: Williams F1 team made “braver” choice with ‘skinny wing’ in Japan
Why Sargeant was merely collateral in F1's fierce fight for sixth
Porsche lodges appeal over da Costa's Misano Formula E disqualification
Ricky Taylor looking for redemption at Long Beach
How Senna’s early Pacific GP exit raised his Benetton suspicions
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The secrets of F1 turbocharging explained
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments