Nicholas Latifi will not return to Williams for the 2023 Formula 1 season. Who will replace him alongside Alexander Albon?
While Williams opted to re-sign Alexander Albon to a long-term extension for the 2023 Formula 1 season and beyond, they made the long-expected decision to cut ties with Nicholas Latifi following the 2022 campaign. Latifi had been with the team since 2020.
This news confirmed that Williams are indeed in the market for a new driver next year. Latifi’s seat is one of five seats lacking confirmed drivers for 2023, though of those five, only two are guaranteed to see change. Latifi’s seat is obviously one of those two.
Who will replace the 27-year-old Canadian next year? Here are five possibilities.
Possible Nicholas Latifi replacements: No. 1 – Logan Sargeant
The fact that there are several other remaining open seats could lead Williams to want to make a quick decision, as it is clear that Latifi’s seat is the least competitive of those seats. They could theoretically lose their chance of signing somebody high on their list to another organization if they wait to make an offer.
But the Grove-based team are reportedly waiting to see if Williams Driver Academy and Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant can secure the necessary points he needs for an FIA Super License before making a decision, implying that he is their preferred option to replace Latifi.
Sargeant, who has a chance to become Formula 1’s first American driver since 2015, currently sits in third place in the Formula 2 standings. He won the feature races at both Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring earlier this summer.
If they can’t land Sargeant, it seems that they would be willing to take whoever is left. And they still might have quite a few options.