Next year’s only Formula 1 rookie Nicholas Latifi anticipates his debut in the top flight with the struggling Williams team next season will be a difficult one.
The Canadian, son of a billionaire Michael Latifi, is joining as a replacement for veteran Robert Kubica, who has scored the team´s only point in a campaign where Williams has lagged behind other teams in terms of speed.
“I don’t underestimate the challenge ahead,” Latifi said on Thursday. “I look forward to the journey ahead with the team, and I am excited to make my F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2020.”
Latifi finished the F2 championship this season in second place, winning four races with one race left this weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has also worked as a reserve driver for Williams this year, doing testing and simulator work as well as participating in practice sessions during race weekends.
“It still feels a bit surreal,” the 24-year-old Latifi said. “I don´t think it will sink in fully until I´m on the grid in Melbourne next year.”
He will race alongside British driver George Russell, and completes the F1 grid for 2020.
Williams has been the slowest car all season, and the only point in 20 races was Kubica´s 10th-place finish at the German Grand Prix in July, with one race left.