Williams hoping to feed off Button "war stories"

Williams team principal Simon Roberts is eager for his drivers to gain insight from senior advisor Jenson Button when Formula 1 gets underway this season.

Button has joined the team that gave him his F1 debut in 2000 in an advisory role, aiming to help Williams during its attempts to climb the grid from the basement position it has held for the last three years.

Despite not being able to invite the 2009 world champion to the factory due to Covid-19 restrictions, Roberts is anticipating the chance for the whole team to rack Button's brains.

"Obviously, we have been talking to him and he is kind of supporting us in many ways, from an overall F1 business point of view and supporting the board and senior management team," said Roberts.

"But once we get racing and he gets a little bit of time off, he can come and help. His ex-race engineer [Dave Robson] is with us so there is a really good relationship.

"So we are really looking forward to getting him into the garage, get some detail and get him doing what he does best, just talking to us, being a sounding board for ideas and getting the best out of his experience.

"I am sure the drivers will get to hear some good stuff from him and a few war stories along the way as well."

Button has worked as a pundit since his F1 career came to an end, whilst he has also competed in Super GT, WEC, the Baja 1000 and become a team owner in British GT and the new Extreme E championship.

New Williams CEO Jost Capito praised the extensive knowledge the Briton has of all forms of motorsport and believes the experience picked up by the 41-year-old will prove invaluable.

"Simon and I, we have worked with Jenson in the past," said Capito. "We have developed a very good relationship with him and he became a friend of ours.

"It is great to have him on board. We were all supportive of the board to get Jenson in. I've had a couple of phone calls with him already and it is great to have someone of his calibre to share what we find.

"It is great to have him in the team just to have a chat, to have a second view. He is very professional and he has been a world champion, he has done different series and is an expert in racing throughout.

"It is great to have a sparring partner like him, not only for me but for all of us."

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