Nicholas Latifi Confirmed to Keep His Seat at Williams: Official F1 Reporter

It looks likelier by the day that George Russell will move to Mercedes for next season. He has been knocking on the door for Bottas’s seat for a while and his performance at Hungary might just have sealed the deal. But what about his teammate Nicholas Latifi and his future at Williams F1?

The Canadian driver finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in P7 to bring home six points for the team. The result was a welcome change for the team, who usually finish at the back of the grid.

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Nicholas Latifi to stay with Williams F1 for the 2022 season

As reported by Formula1, Lawrence Barretto has revealed that Latifi might just have done enough to secure his seat at Williams. The F1 correspondent stated Latifi has been showing strong performances in the races despite his qualifying struggles.

“Latifi has been consistently outperformed by the Briton throughout their time as teammates, he has gradually closed the gap and showed in Hungary that when an opportunity arises, he has what it takes to get the job done,” said Barretto.

“His qualifying performances need work, but his race pace is strong–and he is well liked within the team. Sources say that, as things stand, he’s likely to retain his seat next year,” stated Barretto.

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Who are the potential replacements if George Russell leaves Williams?

Jost Capito, the new CEO of Williams, has boldly claimed that the teams do not need pay drivers anymore. He cited that because of the new investment, the team is rebuilding to get back on top. So, if Russell leaves Williams at the end of the season, they will have decent options to choose from.

Valtteri Bottas 

If Russell replaces Bottas at Mercedes, it would make sense for Valtteri to join Williams. The Finnish driver made his F1 debut in 2013 with the team, so they will welcome him with open arms.

Nico Hulkenberg

The German has been out of the sport since the end of 2019, but he is still highly regarded in F1. Hulkenberg made his name at Williams when he secured his one and only pole with the team. It will be an excellent platform for Nico to make his long-awaited comeback.

Daniil Kvyat

This would be an unorthodox choice, as Kvyat was a part of the Red Bull Driving Academy. However, the Russian has since been dropped by Red Bull and he is still a very feisty driver with a good amount of experience in the sport. His experience could be beneficial for Williams in their rebuilding phase.

Who will Williams pick if Russell leaves? Let us know.