Doubts over whether Latifi is good enough for F1

Ex-Formula 1 driver, Giedo van der Garde, has doubts over whether new Williams driver Nicholas Latifi is good enough to be in Formula 1.

Latifi is the only brand new arrival on the 2020 grid and replaces Robert Kubica following his decision to leave the struggling outfit.

The Canadian brings a lot of financial support to Williams and Van Der Garde is sceptical of him bringing any more advantages to the team.

“I don’t think he [Latifi] is good enough and he will have a really tough time with Russell,” Van Der Garde told Dutch publication Formule 1.

“I can only see Russell going up as he is a great talent, which he proved in Formula 3 and Formula 2. Latifi is in Formula 1 now, but we also know that he is bringing a lot of money that will ensure Williams’ survival.

“I am not blown away by [Nicholas] Latifi as a driver.”

Van Der Garde is also predicting that this could well be Max Verstappen’s time to make his World Championship dreams come true.

When asked if 2020 could be Verstappen’s year, he replied: “I think so. He is of course going to get big competition from Lewis Hamilton, purely when it comes to the world title.

“I think Lewis will always be one step ahead because he has grabbed that title in recent years and knows what to do for it. He knows how to become champion, which is probably his big advantage. Max has never experienced that.

“There will be other emotions but we all know that Max has the capacity to become a world champion. Maybe this year. But it is certain that he will become one.”

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