Nicholas Latifi and the need to regain confidence

Nicholas Latifi is having a complex start to the 2022 season with three 16th places and one retirement. Results which are far from the performances expected in 2021.

Published on 02/05/2022 à 15:00

Tom Trichereau

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Nicholas Latifi and the need to regain confidence

Nicholas Latifi has still not opened his account this season in Formula 1 - ©Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

The race weekends follow one another and are similar for Nicholas latifi. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Canadian driver once again finished behind his teammate and new arrival at Williams, Alexander albon. Ranked 16th this season, the glimmer of hope seen last season seems far behind the Montreal native. After the departure of George Russell for Mercedes At the start of the year, Nicholas Latifi was not yet revealed as the leader of the British team. Jost Capito, the new Team Manager, has not forgotten the abilities of his driver: “ It's a mental game, isn't it? He's capable of driving very fast and can do the same times as Alex if he's good at it, I'm sure. » Despite the support of his team, the Canadian still cannot reproduce the good performances of the second part of the 2021 season.

Memories of Hungary are far away

At the Hungaroring, Nicholas Latifi had the greatest moment of his career in Formula 1. A 7th place and a smile at the finish, the momentum was launched. Increasingly comfortable in his Williams, the Canadian began to compete, on certain tracks, with his former teammate George Russell. And yet, from the 2021 season, it is not this series of good results that everyone remembers, but rather his accident in Abu Dhabi. During the last Grand Prix of the year, he caused a safety car, which upset the end of the race and especially the outcome of the championship, leading to an outpouring of hatred. Beyond the final ranking, his error was the target of criticism on social networks and his confidence was impacted. 

This accident at the end of last season, Nicholas Latifi is still paying the consequences this season. At the wheel of a Williams FW44, “ more complicated to drive than last year's car », According to Jost Capito, the Canadian has still not found his bearings. “ It's been two times that I've ended up in the wall and that's not what I expect of myself at the level I'm at », Testified Nicholas Latifi after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.  

Nicholas Latifi accident Australia

In Melbourne, Nicholas Latifi collided with his Canadian compatriot Lance stroll in qualifying. © Photo DPPI

Three weeks later, the Canadian left Australia behind Alexander Albon who managed to bring home the team's first point this season. “ I think that if (Alexander Albon. Editor’s note) is able to extract that performance from the car, there's no reason me in the other one can't do it », pointed out Nicholas Latifi. 

Bring home the first points of the season

« The conditions were very similar at the start of the race here last year, so I'm very happy that we managed to go all the way in the Grand Prix this year! It was important for me to gain this experience and continue to build my confidence in the car as I feel it is not quite where it should be. » His statement after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix underlines the importance for his performances of being able to regain confidence and good sensations behind the wheel of his Williams. In Miami, Nicholas Latifi, with the full support of his team, will try to continue to generate confidence to be able to aim for points during the season. 

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1 Comment (s)

02/05/2022 at 03:43 a.m.

Won't be surprised if at the end of the season, Latifi is replaced by a young non-paying driver!

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