Williams boss Jost Capito has mentioned Nicholas Latifi’s place on the crew isn’t beneath speedy risk – however they’re conserving an in depth eye on Logan Sargeant’s growth.
Latifi is the one full time driver but to attain some extent this season and that has not regarded like altering any time quickly along with his greatest end result coming at Silverstone and a P12.
Many have begun to query Latifi’s place in F1 and having been soundly crushed by team-mate George Russell in recent times, that development has continued into 2022 with the arrival of Alex Albon.
The Canadian is contracted till the tip of the season nevertheless it appears Williams aren’t solely certain of an extension even with the additional sponsorship cash he brings.
Group principal Capito has admitted the crew are watching the progress of academy driver Sergeant who might go on to interchange Latifi.
“We have now time and varied choices,” Capito mentioned when requested about Latifi’s scenario by Motorsport-total.com.
“As soon as we are able to see how Nicky develops with the brand new bundle now. It took Nicky a comparatively very long time to get confidence and belief within the automobile with the brand new laws. At Silverstone, he says, someway the knot broke.
“So we’ll should see how he develops, as a result of he was actually good final yr alongside George Russell. If he can get that again, there’s no cause to speak about changing him. Now now we have to see how he develops and what the options are. We even have a very good driver in our academy who also can progress.”
Capito was requested if it was Sergeant who he was referring to and the 63-year-old German mentioned “precisely.”
“He’s creating tremendous properly. And I believe I’m identified for selling younger expertise shortly and never placing him on a bench someplace for too lengthy. We have now time in the mean time and might see the way it develops.”
— Nicholas Latifi (@NicholasLatifi) August 17, 2022
Latifi inadvertently turned an necessary a part of final yr’s title battle when his crash within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix introduced out the Security Automotive which led to Max Verstappen’s win. Because of this, Latifi acquired abuse on-line together with some dying threats and Capito believes that did have an effect on the Canadian.
He mentioned: “I believe it did have an effect. While you get dying threats and also you get insulted, no person simply places that away.
“He shut it down finally, however even if you happen to shut it down – you could have it at the back of your thoughts, it’s there.
“Even when I don’t see it anymore, I do know it’s there. We tried to construct his confidence, in fact, as a result of that was so unfounded, what occurred there.”
Latifi is final within the Drivers’ standings with Williams occupying the identical place within the Constructors’ as Method 1 gears up for its return from the summer time break with the Belgian Grand Prix.