Team boss Jost Capito says Nicholas Latifi knew his performance was not up to scratch and therefore his exit from Williams came as “no surprise” to him
In between the Formula 1 races in Monza and Singapore, the Williams team announced that they will not renew Nicholas Latifi’s contract at the end of the season after three years together. The Canadian has struggled to keep up with teammate Alexander Albon this season and remains the only regular driver without points in 2022.
“I mean, it didn’t necessarily come as a surprise,” said Williams team principal Jost Capito when asked how Latifi was dealing with the situation. There were rumours early in the year that Latifi could be replaced by Alpine junior Oscar Piastri before the end of the season, but Williams didn’t want to be in breach of contract.
“Of course we talk all season and we also set the targets where the performance has to be when and he also saw that he is not bringing the performance as we discussed together,” Capito explained.
Capito: Drivers for me “like sons “
“I mean, I’m sure he was very disappointed and it’s also not so easy as a team boss to say that to Nicholas, who is really a great guy and a very friendly and nice person.”
“At my age, the boys are almost like sons and then to say, ‘Listen, it’s not going to go on next year’ is not easy, but I don’t think it came as a surprise to him. But of course he’s disappointed about it,” said the Williams team boss.
Nyck de Vries, who after his strong Formula One debut at Williams in Monza as a replacement for the ill Alexander Albon, seems to be the real preferred option to replace Latifi, but is expected to be announced on the sidelines of the Japanese Grand Prix as the AlphaTauri driver, replacing Pierre Gasly who has switched to Alpine.
Who will get the second Williams cockpit?
When asked who will get the vacant seat next to Albon next season, Capito says: “It’s hard to say because at the moment it’s all so up in the air. You have to see how it develops. We have some that we are talking to and you just have to wait and see at the moment. ”
It is understood that Williams will take their time with the driver decision until after the final race in Abu Dhabi at the end of November to see if Williams junior and Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant can score the necessary super licence points for a Formula 1 seat.
The Formula 2 season also ends in Abu Dhabi and the American needs to finish at least fifth in the championship to accumulate the necessary 40 Super Licence points. He is currently in third place, but mathematically it would still be possible for him to slip to tenth, which would make a place at Williams impossible.
