NICHOLAS LATIFI

When the checkered flag flew on the 2022 Formula 1 season, Canadian driver Nicholas Latifi reluctantly packed up his Formula 1 gear for the last time. The likeable Canadian didn't mince words about his exit from the pinnacle of motorsport after three years driving with perennial backmarker Williams Racing.

“I'm definitely leaving knowing that I haven't achieved what I wanted,” said Latifi who scored nine points for Williams in 61 starts with a best finish of seventh in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

“There's sadness and disappointment. Any driver who's left Formula 1 not on their own terms would be lying if they didn't say that.”

The unceremonious end came after Latifi went into 2022 hoping to build on the previous season where he slowly closed the gap to highly rated teammate George Russell. Over the course of 2021, Latifi averaged 0.567 seconds slower than Russell in qualifying after removing the five-second difference in the wet-dry Saturday session in Russia but improved significantly as the season progressed. In the last six races, he cut average deficit to 0.212 seconds and out-qualified Russell twice.

In equal machinery in 2022, Russell beat seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in points and scored his Mercedes team's only win, although he was out qualified 13-9.

Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Williams squandered its additional development time allotted under the new rules for 2022 and not only produced the slowest package on the grid – again – but also one that suited Latifi's style even less than previous challengers.

“The car was definitely a step back and I struggled to get on top of it,” he said. “I was relatively closer to George than to [2022 teammate] Alex [Albon] because the new car was so much more out of my comfort zone. I was never able to say to myself, ‘I feel like the car is doing what I want it to do’ and then have the confidence to push instinctively.”

Latifi wasn't alone in his battle with the 2022 car. Eighttime Formula 1 race winner Daniel Ricciardo struggled so much with his McLaren that the team dropped him at the end of the season.

While he remained unhappy about how his Formula 1 career ended, Latifi chose to look at the bright side of his time in the series.

“I got to be a Formula 1 driver for three years, and when I step back and think about it, I realize that a lot of drivers would give anything to do one grand prix, let alone three seasons,” he said. “There were some good moments and bad moments – definitely not enough good moments – but it's been very character building.”

Career Stats

STARTS: 61

POINTS: 9

HIGHEST FINISH: 7th (2021 Hungarian Grand Prix)

FIRST POINTS: 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix

LAST POINTS: 2022 Japanese Grand Prix (9th)

BEST YEAR: 2021 (17th in points) IT