Williams enjoying ‘fantastic’ insight from Button
Jost Capito is finding it “fantastic” to have Jenson Button available as a senior adviser to the Williams team.
The 2009 World Champion was announced in January as taking a consultancy role with the team at which he began his Formula 1 career in 2000, spending just one season there before he moved on to Benetton.
The 41-year-old is combining the role with his various other pursuits, one of which is working for Sky F1 at selected races which will make it easier to pass on his guidance.
But in their early dealings, Capito, the Williams CEO who also joined the team earlier this year, is enjoying his interactions with Button and already gaining some valuable insight.
“I’m talking to him quite often,” said Capito during the Beyond The Grid podcast. “It’s just his general experience, his general approach – he’s loved by the team.
“For me, it’s so good to have someone I can talk to with that kind of experience and if I have an issue…‘where do you go, this way, that way?’ – to have someone with that experience to talk to is fantastic.
“And also when he is around – not yet – he will go in the factory and he’s a great motivator as well.
“We are also, from the personality [side], we are quite similar, so we benefit from each other and we both see a great chance to get the team back to the top together. And him being involved is fantastic for me.”
Show your support for Williams with their latest official merchandise collection
Capito also gave encouragement to Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, who had a decidedly mixed weekend in the last race at Imola.
The Canadian, along with George Russell, showed more pace in the car than has usually been the case since his F1 debut last year, reaching Q2 and starting 14th on the grid, but crashed out of the race on the opening lap following a downpour.
“It is very difficult to be George’s team-mate,” said Capito, referring to Russell’s talent. “It’s the same as being Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate.
“It’s remarkable how Nicholas deals with the situation. He did his rookie season last year, so he has to learn and that’s what he did.
“He came close to the points a few times and works incredibly hard. I think he can improve this year and will show us more. I think he’s better than his reputation.”
Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!