Nicholas latifi

1. Who is he?

Nicholas Latifi is a Canadian racing driver born June 29, 1995 in Montreal. Between 2020 and 2022, he played for Williams Racing in Formula 1.

2. Nicholas Latifi’s junior career

After karting, Nicholas Latifi started in single-seaters in 2012 in the Italian Formula 3 championship. With the BVM team, he obtained 4 podiums, including a victory, and finished 7th in the championship. After competing in the Toyota Racing Series in the winter of 2013, Nicholas Latifi took part in the European F3 championship with Carlin Motorsport. 15th in the championship without exceptional performances, he embarked on a double program with the British F3 championship. He finished 5th in the championship with 2 poles and a podium. In 2014, Latifi returned to the European F3 championship with Prema. His podium at Silverstone during the 2nd race is one of the rare satisfactions of a season punctuated in 10th place. The end of 2014 allowed him to freelance in the GP2 Series in Abu Dhabi, as well as 6 races in Formula Renault 3.5. 

A championship in which he will enter in 2015. He finished 11th in the championship, without a podium, at the wheel of an Arden Motorsport car. The DAMS team offered him a seat in the GP2 Series for the following season. Completely dominated by his teammate Alex Lynn, Latifi finished 16th with only 23 points. His 2nd season in the stable was much more successful. With 9 podiums, he ranks 5th in the championship. 2018 marks his first test in F1 at the wheel of a Force India for the first free practice session of the Canadian GP. He obtained his first victory in F2 on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. He finished 9th in the championship and once again signed with Dams for the 2019 season. And this time, Latifi lives up to expectations. The Canadian finished vice-champion behind Nyck De Vries with 4 victories and as many pole positions. A year where he made several appearances with the Williams F1 team.

3. Nicholas Latifi’s F1 journey

In 2020, Nicholas Latifi debuted in Formula 1 alongside George Russell. 11th in his first Grand Prix in Austria, Nicholas Latifi hoists his Williams into Q2 during the Hungarian Grand Prix. He finished 3 times on the verge of points and dominated his teammate in the race. Nicholas Latifi finishes 21st in his first F1 season.

In 2021, he is still alongside Russell at Williams. The Canadian showed himself at the Hungarian GP, ​​where he finished in 7th place. After driving in 3rd position for more than 15 laps, Nicholas Latifi scored his first points in Formula 1. He did it again at the non-Belgian Grand Prix, reduced to the strict minimum due to rain. 

Latifi will, however, experience his hour of glory despite making a mistake on the 53rd lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, decisive in the top fight for the title between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. While the Mercedes driver had won the race and the championship in his pocket, the Safety Car entered the track and completely reshuffled the cards. Added to this is a lunar management of events by the race management which delivers the last lap that we know.

Taken to task by Sir Lewis fans, Latifi will struggle to get back behind the wheel at the start of 2022, where he makes a series of mistakes. Despite a slight improvement from mid-season, his fate was definitively sealed when Nyck de Vries dominated him at Monza while the Dutchman discovered the Williams by replacing Alexander Albon at short notice.

A few days later, Williams announced that Latifi would not be retained in 2023. He was replaced by the American Logan Sargeant.

4. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Nicholas Latifi

Given Nicholas Latifi's performance in promotional formula, few observers saw him arriving in Formula 1. The Canadian achieved this in 2020 thanks to his generous patrons. In three seasons, the man from Toronto has not made any sparks, even if he is disciplined and diligent. However, history will remember that he played the kingmaker at Abu Dhabi 2021. A status that will earn him cases of Red Bull for life... That's always a bargain!

Pyet, the Canadian