Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Capito: No number one driver at Williams in 2022
Williams Formula 1 team principal Jost Capito insists that Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi will have equal status next season.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Dec 28, 2021, 5:46 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After a year on the sidelines Albon leaves the Red Bull camp in 2022 to replace George Russell, who has joined the works Mercedes team.
However, Capito says that Latifi will have an equal opportunity to help the team make further progress.
Both men have completed two full F1 seasons, with Latifi having started 39 races and Albon 38.
"Of course, it's good for both,” said Capito. “I think for Alex, it's great to have this second chance to come back and lead the team to move forward.
“He doesn't come in and say, 'Okay, I want to win races.’ It is clear that he has to develop the team together with Nicky and us and all the engineers and everybody in Grove. And he seems to enjoy this role. He works very well with Nicky.
“We don't have a number one and number two, they are both treated exactly the same. And Nicky can put his mark, there is no doubt."
Nicholas Latifi, Williams
Photo by: Williams F1
Capito says that Latifi made good progress in 2021, although the Canadian was inevitably overshadowed by Russell.
"Nicky has done a good job this year as well, when you look at all the qualifying results, some do not show that he had been in the position that he could have outqualified George, but situations where he was not in charge.
“And when when you see the gaps, they were never really big. And of course, it's a big challenge to be the team mate of George. He did really well, and he improved a lot through this season.
“So I'm sure he can still improve, because it was just his second season. And the first season last year was a really strange season with COVID.
“And a lot of new circuits again this year, it was difficult for him again, and he did a brilliant job based on that.”
Capito says Albon and Latifi’s established relationship from their F2 days is a plus for the team.
“Alex and Nicky raced together as teammates in 2018. So they know each other, they respect each other highly," he added.
"George and Alex are personal friends. I think Alex is the perfect fit for the team at the situation where the team is now.
“For Alex I think it's a great second chance. And I'm sure he fits well in our environment. And we will have a lot of fun with him, and him he with us as well. And I'm sure he will perform very well."
Read Also:
- Latifi shocked by "hate, abuse and threats" after Abu Dhabi GP crash
- The jubilation and sorrow Williams experienced in its 2021 F1 recovery
- Albon explains why Williams was first choice for F1 comeback
Regarding the departed Russell, Capito said: "George is a great team leader. And raw diamond would not good enough. He is already a polished diamond.
"And he is still not at his best, I think he can still get better. But the stage he is now he is a huge asset for every team. And so he was for us.
"And on one hand, we are sad to see him leave. But that could be expected, and we supported him to get this chance. And we are very happy for him to get the chance.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 2022 cars "not crazy different" in simulator, says Bottas
Next article Vettel: Schumacher did "incredible job" with poor Haas F1 car
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Chase Briscoe leads NASCAR Cup Homestead practice; Larson brushes wall and Reddick wrecks
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Chase Briscoe leads NASCAR Cup Homestead practice; Larson brushes wall and Reddick wrecks
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 h
Why Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explains
F1 Brazil GP: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 h
F1 Brazil GP: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe