Israeli Formula One Grand Prix the aim for Williams F1 reserve driver Roy Nissany

Williams

Israeli Grand Prix the aim for Williams reserve driver Nissany

Why Mercedes choice of reserve driver may not have been based purely on pace

Sam Hall

Monday 20 January 2020 10:30

Williams signing little known Roy Nissany as the teams reserve driver for 2020 raised eyebrows when it was announced with suggestions that the move could be placing sponsorship ahead of talent. Now it becomes clear that Nissany at least has some alternative motivations of his own.

In 2018, Nissany finished twenty-second in Formula 2. Throughout his whole car racing career, he has just five race wins. The makings of a Formula One driver, this is not.

However, Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport has uncovered the true motivations behind the signing.

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"The goal is to race in Israel in 2021," said Nissany. "It would be a dream to be able to drive there, with 350 million people admiring my country on TV.

"For me it has been a long journey - almost 20 years. Formula 1 was never a dream but a goal. Williams is a wonderful place to learn and I am very grateful to be offered this opportunity."

A key backer of Nissany is the Israel Start-Up Nation, founded by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams.

Adams is keen to see Nissany move into a rae seat asquickly as possible and hinted that a dal for this was already in place with Williams, adding, "The fast-track plan is for Roy to be an actual F1 driver as early as 2021.

"Of course, he has a few hurdles to accomplish before he can be selected to be one of the two drivers."

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