Jack Aitken is a British-Korean racing driver currently competing in Formula 2 for Campos Racing. Aitken began his career in karting at Buckmore Park, aged 7. He made the transition to cars when he competed in the Intersteps Championship with Fortec Motorsport, with whom he then went on to race with in the Formula Renault BARC Winter Series, Formula Renault NEC and Formula Renault Eurocup. After winning the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2015, Aitken was signed up for the Renault young driver academy, with which he remained until 2019. After competing in the GP3 Series in 2016 and 2017 he progressed to Formula 2 for 2018. He is also the reserve driver for the Williams Formula One team.
Career
Karting
Aitken started his career karting, at Buckmore Park in Kent.
Formula Renault Eurocup
Aitken entered his first full season of Formula Renault Eurocup in 2014 with Fortec Motorsports. He won one race at the Hungaroring, and finished on the podium four times. During the first half of the campaign, he had to finish off his A Levels while attending Westminster School. At the start of 2015, he moved to Koiranen GP for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season. Aitken won the title at the final round in Jerez, after winning the Formula Renault Alps title at the same track one week previously.
Formula Renault Alps
In 2015, Aitken entered the Formula Renault Alps Championship, alongside his campaign in Formula Renault Eurocup. He won this title at the final round in Jerez.
GP3 Series
In January 2016, it was announced Aitken would step up to the series with Arden International. In his maiden season, he claimed a victory in the second race Spa-Francorchamps and claimed six additional podiums to finish fifth in the overall standings. In February 2017, it was announced that Aitken would remain in the series, switching to team champions ART Grand Prix. That year he finished second in the championship, albeit a long distance behind his teammate George Russell.
Formula 2
In January 2018, ART Grand Prix announced Aitken would join their Formula 2 team for the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship, partnering George Russell yet again. He took his first victory in the Barcelona sprint race and finished 11th in the championship. For the 2019 season, Aitken moved to Campos Racing. Aitken took his first win of the season, and Campos Racing's first win in Formula 2, at the Azerbaijan feature race. He also won his home sprint race at Silverstone, after overtaking Louis Delétraz on lap 17. Aitken also won the Monza sprint race after defending from the MP Motorsport car of Jordan King. King criticised Aitken’s defensive driving as he claimed after the race that Aitken was weaving down the straight. He finished 5th in the standings, helping Campos to finish 5th in the team championship.
