Formula 1: Williams reveal 2020 driver decision timetable

Williams will not confirm the second driver in their lineup for the 2020 Formula 1 season until at least after the 2019 season comes to an end.

ROKiT Williams Racing confirmed in July that rookie George Russell is under contract with the team through the 2021 Formula 1 season. Now nearly three and a half months later, they are the only team with an open seat remaining on next year’s grid.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso still don’t have solidified driver lineups for next year, but the three open seats within these teams, one at the former and two at the latter, have already been confirmed as going to the three drivers currently in them.

With both teams being within the Red Bull organization, the team are free to move these drivers around as they please.

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Robert Kubica, who returned to Formula 1 this year driving for the Grove-based team after having not driven in the sport since 2010, confirmed in September that he will not be returning to Williams next year, freeing up the seat alongside the 2017 GP3 Series champion and 2018 Formula 2 champion.

Nicholas Latifi, who sits in second place in the Formula 2 driver standings with just two races remaining on the 22-race 2019 schedule, currently serves as Williams’ test and reserve driver, and he has driven for the team in multiple free practice sessions this year.

He did so ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard, the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, and he is set to do so again ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace next Sunday, November 17 as well.

The 24-year-old Canadian has been tipped to replace Kubica next season, which is not shocking considering not only the fact that he is already tied to the team more so than any other driver not named George Russell but the fact that Williams are (by far) the slowest team on the grid and in need of cash. Latifi’s father is McLaren co-owner and billionaire Michael Latifi, and McLaren have already confirmed their driver lineup for next year with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris.

Most importantly, Latifi is slated to secure a super license due to his success in Formula 2 this season, meaning that he could accept a full-time Formula 1 ride if offered next year.

But despite these rumors, it will be quite a while yet before Williams confirm their 2020 driver lineup. In fact, this confirmation won’t happen until at least after the 2019 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit next month. Additionally, they refuse to say whether or not Latifi is truly the lead candidate to land alongside Russell.

Here is what deputy team principal Claire Williams had to say about the matter, according to Formula 1.

"“The plan was always to have Nicholas Latifi in the car for these practice sessions that you’re seeing him in…it’s no clear indication. We’ve made it very clear in the media that we won’t be making our driver announcement for that second seat for 2020 until after Abu Dhabi this year.”"

Nico Hulkenberg is the lone driver in this year’s driver lineup who is actively seeking to return to Formula 1 next year but does not have a ride to do so. However, he has ruled out driving for Williams, the team for which he drove in his rookie season back in 2020.

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Who will Williams ultimately confirm as their second driver for the 2020 Formula 1 season, and when will they officially make their decision? Will they go with Nicholas Latifi as speculated, or will they pull off a shocking move by hiring another driver who doesn’t appear to be in the picture at this point? With several weeks to go until the end of the 2019 season, several possibilities remain in play.

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