"Hyped up" Aitken bracing for disappointment if Hamilton given Abu Dhabi GP green light

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

"Hyped up" Aitken bracing for disappointment if Hamilton given Abu Dhabi GP green light

Aitken on standby to fill in for Russell should Hamilton not be passed fit for season finale

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Thursday 10 December 2020 12:51 Updated: 12:57

Williams stand-in driver Jack Aitken has conceded he will be left "disappointed" if he does not drive in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after "getting all hyped up" following his maiden outing at the weekend.

Aitken is continuing to fill the seat vacated by George Russell, who himself is waiting anxiously to see if seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton passes the numerous tests required to enter the UAE after recently contracting Covid-19.

With Hamilton's plans still unknown, Aitken has again been preparing to race with Williams, adding to the potential disappointment should he end up being sidelined.

"It's not too weird," he said of not knowing the exact situation surrounding the weekend.

"Obviously, I will be a bit disappointed if I don't get to drive after getting all hyped up and prepped for it but there's no reason for me not to prepare.

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"In fact, I should be as prepared as I can be. I am using all the time I have to make sure I am ready and if I get the nod, I will be in a good position."

On his preparation, he revealed: "I skipped the track walk actually, lazy [laughing]. We have gone over stuff that was more from last weekend and looking over some of the areas that I can improve, some procedural stuff. That was pretty straightforward.

"Looking forward to this weekend, the challenges we might face, it is all pretty standard prep I think that George would be doing as well if he was here.

"That is by virtue of having the one weekend under our belt already so we are already quite a few steps ahead."

Ahead of practice at the Yas Marina Circuit and with a cloud still looming over his participation, Aitken at least feels he will be much improved this weekend should he be given a second chance.

"We don't know [any plans] yet," he explained. "I think it is up to Mercedes and Lewis' recovery.

"I am just waiting for confirmation either way. Obviously, I would love to be back in the car because I think I have made some big steps and this weekend would be stronger, but really I just have to wait and see what the confirmation will be."