Formula 1 Rumors

Rumor: Piastri to replace Latifi soon? (6th Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

(GMM) Nicholas Latifi has admitted that 2022 could be his last season in Formula 1.

However, the Canadian driver noted that rumors he would be ousted by Williams for poor performance after his recent home race in Montreal were side of the mark.

“Rumors and criticism are part of the game,” he told RTL at Silverstone.

“But if you believe everything that is written, my season would have been over after Montreal.

“We’ll stick to the facts. Tomorrow we’ll talk to Jost Capito,” he added, referring to Williams’ team boss.

Nicholas Latifi. Photo by Richard Pardon for Williams

 

The 27-year-old, who brings substantial backing to Williams in the form of the major team sponsor Sofina Foods, acknowledges that his career is at risk.

“If I look at my performance this year, I might actually not be able to drive in Formula 1 next year,” Latifi admits.

“But there is also a very good possibility that I will drive for Williams next season.”

In the meantime, he played down the fact that Williams’ new Red Bull-style car update at Silverstone will only be in the hands of his teammate Alex Albon.

“It’s quite common for upgrades to be available for only one car at first,” said Latifi, “so no, I’m not surprised he got it here.

“Of course I would have liked to have it as it’s a serious change and I hope it makes a difference for us.”

June 10, 2022 

RacingNews365 host Tom Coronel said Australian Piastri, who is currently reserve driver for French team Alpine, is likely to end up at Williams next year on loan from Alpine.

Tom Coronel – who himself had a successful career in touring cars – said Alpine had a “decent” budget put aside to help develop Piastri, and that a deal may have been signed at the last Grand Prix in Monaco.

“I don’t know when they’re going to come out with it. That’s a strong rumor,” he said.

“If you want to mature someone in Formula 1, like Piastri, then Alpine has set aside a decent budget for this: a budget to park him and get him used to Formula 1.”

It is considered highly unlikely that Fernando Alonso will retire at the end of the year, and his pace throughout the early part of 2022 has well and truly been good enough to warrant him keeping his seat for next year.

June 10, 2022 

(GMM) There is “no question” about Nicholas Latifi’s place at Williams for the remainder of the 2022 season.

That is the latest denial of rumors linking the struggling and error-prone-in-2022 Canadian driver with the exit door – potentially to make room for Alpine reserve and reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.

“We have contracts with both of our drivers and we respect them,” Williams team boss Jost Capito told Germany’s Sport1.

“Nicholas was only slightly slower than Alex (Albon) on Saturday,” he insisted. “He just needs a little more time to get used to the new car.

“But he has our full support and for us there is currently no question of changing anything about our driver pairing over the course of the season,” Capito added.

However, suggestions the Mark Webber-managed Piastri, 21, may be Williams-bound are likely to persist – and Capito suggested he does deserve a seat.

“I’m sure he’ll be in Formula 1 next season,” said the German.

May 6, 2022 

(GMM) Nicholas Latifi has hit back at rumors suggesting his Formula 1 seat is in danger.

The Canadian, who made his debut for Williams in 2020 with the backing of his father’s company Sofina Foods, has struggled for pace whilst also making high-profile mistakes so far this season.

In the context of new teammate Alex Albon’s impressive form in the sister Williams, it has prompted speculation that 26-year-old Latifi could be ousted and replaced by Oscar Piastri – who would be on loan from Alpine.

“You should not pay attention to everything that is written about me,” Latifi told Le Journal de Montreal newspaper ahead of the F1 race in Miami.

“And I’m not the only one experiencing the same treatment. However, I do realize that my results are not satisfactory. I have to do more,” he admitted.

“It’s a matter of trust,” Latifi continued. “I’m convinced that I can drive as fast as Alexander, whose learning time behind the wheel of the new car was shorter.”

Alpine reserve and Australian Piastri, 21, is managed by Mark Webber and is the current Formula 2 champion.

May 4, 2022 

(GMM) Williams could soon make a key race driver change, according to former F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher.

The German says it’s obvious that Williams is not happy with Nicholas Latifi, despite the financial backing the struggling Canadian driver brings.

“The Williams investors want two strong drivers in the car,” Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. “(Alex) Albon is doing a great job and the difference to Latifi is very, very big.”

Schumacher says 26-year-old Latifi is only attracting attention at present “due to his accidents”.

He therefore thinks a rumored driver change could actually happen sooner rather than later.

“There are a lot of exciting things happening in Formula 1 right now and one of them could be a driver change this year.

“(Oscar) Piastri would be a perfect choice,” said the 46-year-old former Williams driver. “If he doesn’t deserve it, who does?”

Reserve driver and Australian Piastri, 21, is managed by Mark Webber and under firm contract to Alpine, but the Renault-owned team has indicated it is prepared to loan him to another outfit.

April 28, 2022 

(GMM) Rumors are swirling about the future of struggling Williams driver Nicholas Latifi.

Some are speculating that the British team may be considering Alpine’s offer of loaning reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri to another outfit for his F1 debut.

And while replacing the well-backed Canadian Latifi – whose father Michael owns Sofina Foods – may seem unlikely, the 26-year-old has had a particularly messy start to his 2022 season.

Williams boss Jost Capito admits Latifi’s confidence has taken a big hit.

“Of course. It’s a head game, isn’t it?” he said.

“He’s capable of driving very fast and do the same lap times as Alex (Albon) if he is in the right place, I’m sure. The cars are a bit more difficult and trickier to drive than last year’s and he has to get his head around it.

“He gets the full support from the team and we are sure he will get there.”

Capito thinks some of Latifi’s confidence problems were triggered by the fallout of the 2021 world championship outcome, in which he took much of the blame for the title-deciding safety car period.

“I think what impacted him most last year was the comments and the threats on social media,” he said.

“We try to boost his confidence, we work with him and I think he’s getting better on that.”

April 25, 2022 

Albert Fabrega came up with some interesting news on Sunday night. The reliable Formula 1 journalist, in the service of the Spanish broadcasting company DAZN among others, knows after the Grand Prix at the circuit of Imola that an early driver switch between two teams is coming up.

The Spanish insider says in a video: “The market is already moving. Something is happening, but I can’t say because I wasn’t allowed to say anything [from whom he got the news]. I am not surprised by those who leave, but I am surprised by those who arrive. Well, it is a change of drivers between teams’.”

 

At Sky Sports Ted Kravitz announced that he has heard rumors that Williams might consider acquiring Oscar Piastri (shown above), to replace an under performing Nicholas Latifi. The Australian did not get a seat in F1 at Alpine after his F2 title, and the French team would be open to loaning him out.

Would Alpine make Latifi their reserve driver?  Has Latifi’s father decided to cut back on his funding for his son, who crashes often?

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