Williams driver Nicholas Latifi hopes to kick on from his impressive display at the British Grand Prix after he made Q3 for the first time in his career.
Latifi now trails Alex Albon 8-2 in the qualifying battle having technically out-qualifying the Thai-British driver in Imola, before starting the race behind him having been passed in the sprint race.
Asides from that and the races in Spain and Monaco, the Canadian has endured a horrible first half of the year so far, finding himself comfortably out-performed by his team-mate, but he found some pace and inspiration in Silverstone last weekend.
In wet conditions, Latifi made the third and final qualifying session for the first time in his career as he finished 10th, but the dry race was always going to be a challenge.
He fell back to P12, but finished the race ahead of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, demonstrative of the improvements he has made this year.
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Amid his poor form prior to the British Grand Prix, there had been rumours of Latifi being dropped mid-season and replaced by either Nyck de Vries of Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri, but his performance in Silverstone was confirmation of his rightful place in the pinnacle of motorsport.
“I mean, for me, it doesn’t really give me any more, let’s say, relief or comforts,” he told RacingNews365.com.
“I mean, it’s actually a confidence booster, and it is positive. And I know I am capable of these performances, and I can drive as quick as I need to drive to deserve to be in Formula 1, when things are going right.”
His pace and the strong result might just have been the boost the Canadian needed to produce a strong of results from here on in.
“Things have not been going well this year, there’s just no secret about that, but this is building some confidence,” explained Latifi.
“It’s one good result and strong performances, consistently, is more of what is needed, not just a flash.
“I hope this is not a flash, we’ll see after the coming sessions, but that’s what’s going to be needed.
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“I don’t really think there’s much relief in this result, but I obviously take a lot of satisfaction.”
Latifi’s finish in Britain moves him back above Aston Martin reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg and into 20th in the Drivers’ Standings.