Williams driver Nicholas Latifi acknowledges that he needs to “do more” if he is to keep his place in Formula 1, but maintains that his team have faith in him to improve his performance.
Latifi has had four notable crashes in the opening five weekends of the 2022 season, with his latest coming during practice for the Miami Grand Prix.
The Canadian has been giving his mechanics a fair amount of additional work so far this season, and his performances, having failed to make it out of Q1 and been out-qualified on all four occasions so far this season by team-mate Alex Albon, have been underwhelming as he sits 21st in the Drivers’ Standings.
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Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega revealed recently that he had received news that there is an imminent switch about to take place “between two teams.”
“There is already movement in the market. Things are happening but I cannot say because they have told me not to say anything,” he confirmed.
Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz also divulged that he had heard some whispers about Williams’ driver line-up, indicating that Alpine reserve Oscar Piastri could be loaned out to Williams for the 2023 season.
“One of the latest paddock rumours has Williams interested in the services of Oscar Piastri,” he said.
“This is for next year. I know I said you might see Oscar Piastri potentially at Aston Martin, but it seems I was wrong about that and actually Oscar Piastri/Alpine are looking at Williams potentially as a place for him next year.”
Latifi scored points on two occasions in 2021 in what was a marked improvement on his debut season the year previous.
He managed to out-qualify the immensely talented George Russell twice while out-racing him on five occasions, proving his credentials as a deserving racer in the pinnacle of motorsport, but there is no denying that he has endured an incredibly rough start to the year in 2022.
The 27-year-old disregards the speculation surrounding him, and reiterates the certitude between himself and the team that he can improve.
“You shouldn’t pay attention to everything that’s written about me,” he told journaldemontreal.com.
“And I’m not the only one experiencing the same treatment. However, I realise that my results aren’t satisfactory. I have to do more.
“It’s a matter of trust. I’m convinced that I can drive as fast as Alexander, whose learning time behind the wheel of the new car was shorter.”
British journalist Joe Saward threw Mercedes reserve and EQ Formula E driver Nyck de Vries’ name in the hat to replace Latifi, but the three-time Formula E race winner and current world champion was bemused by the speculation.
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“I have no idea where you read them [the rumours] or where you came across them. But then I’m very curious where they got that from, because honestly, I have no idea,” he said.
Albon’s 10th-placed finish in Australian remains Williams’ only point of the season so far.