Chadwick hails importance of Prema and Williams in career development

Reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick says that the experience gained racing for Prema and as a development driver for Williams has been invaluable for her development as a driver.

Chadwick, who won the inaugural W Series in 2019 before the global coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season, spent the year racing for the all-conquering Prema team in the Formula Regional European Championship and in the F3 Asian Championship.

“To be in a championship like Formula Regional and in a team like Prema is a great experience, I think,” Chadwick told Motorsport Technology before Christmas. “Results wise I think it’s been pretty disappointing, pretty tough to swallow in that sense, but there was so much I was able to learn.

“I think being up against some of the best drivers coming through the ranks in one of the best junior teams in the world, the amount I learned, the amount of information and things I can take forward is huge and ultimately, it’s for me to try and use all of that and come back stronger for what we have planned for next year.

And that’s a wrap ✅ A bloody tough year but so much to take forwards 🙌🏻 Thank you @RodinCars, @PREMA_Team, and everyone else for their continued support. Onwards and upwards 💫 pic.twitter.com/vFQjzzOD70

— Jamie Chadwick (@JamieChadwick55) December 7, 2020

“Being in that environment, I can definitely see why they are the best team currently in junior motorsport. They obviously won F2, F3, Formula Regional and F4. An incredible environment for me to learn, and be in. It’s a big culture change from being in British teams to then go to an Italian team that mainly have French engineers in there.

“A big culture shift, but the amount I was able to learn and digest in that environment was huge. Results aside, this year will probably go down as the year that I have learned the most, and I’m really excited to take all of that learning with me into W Series next year and all of that experience I’ve gained is going to be so valuable going forwards.”

In addition to her season with Prema, Chadwick continued her role as development driver for the Williams Racing F1 team and is keen to learn as much as possible going forwards if she can retain that important job.

“Being a part of Formula One with Williams in the development driver role last year with the amount of people you can lean on for information and gain advice in the F1 paddock is quite high,” added Chadwick. “If I can retain the role with Williams, I’m looking forward to the drivers they have there and the team they have behind them, because that’s definitely something I can really benefit from and gain a lot of information.

“Being a part of Williams, I’m close with George (Russell) and Nicholas (Latifi). I can learn a lot from them and they’re not too dissimilar in age to me, so that’s a big advantage. I can lean on them for information and support.”