Williams complete 2020 puzzle with Nicholas Latifi signing
Months after his name was pencilled in for the second Williams race seat, the Grove team has finally confirmed Nicholas Latifi for next season.
The 24-year-old Canadian will replace the departing Robert Kubica as George Russell’s new team-mate.
Latifi fits the Williams bill
Latifi will step up from Formula 2 to Formula 1 next season with his signing completing the 2020 driver line up.
Williams have been in the hunt for a new driver since Robert Kubica shocked the team back in September when he announced that this campaign would be his one and only with the former World Champions.
Although other drivers were briefly linked to the Pole’s seat, it was Latifi who always led the running.
Not only was he Williams’ 2019 test and reserve driver, testing the car in six FP1 sessions, but he also fills the other criteria: Money.
Latifi’s father, Michael, is a billionaire businessman who founded Sofina Foods Inc in Canada.
He has backed his son’s career, although it must be said that Latifi also has talent shown by his four wins in this year’s F2 campaign.
“I am thrilled to be stepping up as race driver for 2020,” Latifi said.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team this year, supporting them with the development of the car, and assisting wherever I can trackside and at the factory.
“I look forward to the journey ahead with the team, and I am excited to make my Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2020.”
Latifi’s promotion has been months in the making
Earlier this season the 24-year-old was already being linked to Kubica’s seat with pundits claiming the under-performing Pole could be replaced mid-season.
That never happened with Williams sticking with Kubica to the bitter end.
That, though, did little to silence the rumours that Latifi would soon be racing for Williams.
Following Kubica’s September announcement, Latifi was again making headlines as he was linked to the Pole’s soon-to-be-vacant seat.
Williams took their sweet time confirming his promotion.
“We wanted to afford Nicholas the opportunity to continue the F2 campaign and focus on that rather than being distracted by any earlier kind of announcement,” Claire Williams explained to Crash.net.
“But it probably was an inevitability and one that we’re really delighted about, and we’re really looking forward to seeing how Nicholas does next year.
“He’s been a fantastic part of the team this year as our reserve driver. He’s done a number of FP1 sessions and test days. He’ll do the test next week for us as well. And I think he just has the right kind of personality as well that we’re looking for in our drivers at Williams.”
She also wanted to ensure that Latifi was on course for the required superlicence points to be a Formula 1 driver.
He had to finish inside the top five in the 2019 Formula 2 championship with Latifi heading into the final round second in the standings.
Williams added: “Obviously Nicholas stepping up next year was dependent on him achieving the superlicence, so again another reason why the decision was only made at this point of the year to enable him to do that.
“You don’t want to sign a driver until they’ve actually got it, do you? That would be difficult!”
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