Nicholas Latifi speaks publicly for first time on Williams axe

Dropped by Williams, Nicholas Latifi acknowledges Formula 1 is a “performance based industry” and he just wasn’t getting the results.

Unable to crack the top-ten this season, there has been a lot of speculation about Latifi and his future in Formula 1.

The final nail came down at Monza where the Canadian had a debutant team-mate in the car alongside him with Nyck de Vries not only out-qualifying him but scoring in a grand prix where once again Latifi was point-less.

The following week Williams announced they would not be renewing the driver’s contract, the 27-year-old out after three years with the team.

Having scored just twice in his 55 starts and not at all this season despite both Alex Albon and De Vries recording top-ten finishes, Latifi concedes he didn’t get the results need.

That he puts down to somethings “of my control, some out of my control”.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the confirmation, he told the media at the Marina Bay circuit: “It’s obviously disappointing news.

“I mean I obviously would love to stay in F1 you know, it’s what I’ve been working towards for very good chunk of my life. The pinnacle of motorsport is where I want to be.

“But at the end of the day this is a result of performance based industry, it always has been, and unfortunately it just hasn’t worked out this year for many different reasons.

“Some of my control, some out of my control, that’s motorsport and it’s always been the case for everyone up and down the grid.

“So yeah, now it’s for the rest of the year, obviously there are six races left, and I’m just looking to end on as high a note as possible and kind of close this chapter of three years with Williams off and focus on what’s next, whatever that is.

“If we’re going to ask you what’s next, I don’t really have much detail to give you.”

The Canadian admits he was “expecting to hear” he’d be losing his Williams seat but that with the official word only coming down after Monza, he has yet to decide his 2023 plans.

So, I’m parting ways with @WilliamsRacing at the end of the year.

Honoured to have represented them for the last 3 years. A massive thanks to the whole team – it’s been an incredible journey and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.

Determined to end 2022 positively. 6 races left! pic.twitter.com/gN5xWsUUH2

— Nicholas Latifi (@NicholasLatifi) September 23, 2022

“I’ve definitely been exploring all the options lets say,” he said.

“I was always one of those people that said even prior to this year, prior to getting into Formula One in general, whenever I was asked ‘what if F1 doesn’t work out? What if you got a Formula One driver next year, or what if you don’t even get the Formula One all those years ago, what’s going to be next?’

“I was always kind of I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it but obviously that bridge has come this year, a few weeks ago. So I’m in the process of just kind of evaluating all the options really.

“There’s many different things on the table, things that ultimately I get to decide what I want to work towards, and yeah it’s still too early to really say anything because it’s quite… obviously I found out after Monza when it was decided.

“I found out before the announcement obviously. I officially found out after Monza which is when I was expecting to hear this anyway so it’s only been a few weeks and right now the focus is just these last six races off on a home.”

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