Who will replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams in 2023?

It’s official: Williams and Nicholas Latifi will end their collaboration at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season. The rumors and pressure regarding Latifi’s future were becoming increasingly intense, especially after Nyck de Vries’ strong performance at the Italian Grand Prix, where he replaced Alex Albon.

Now that the information has been made official, all eyes are turning to the team boss, Jost Capito, to find out who will replace the Canadian next season.

The first name that comes to mind is of course Nyck de Vries. Jost Capito praised his skills after Monza and indicated that the Dutchman is on the shortlist of candidates for a seat at Williams. He did absolutely everything without errors and in a very professional manner as if he had been in the car all year. These cars are very complex and difficult to drive. Jumping into it like that is a completely different thing, in the simulator or in real life, he said about Nyck de Vries.

But the Mercedes reserve driver could go and see if the grass is greener elsewhere, particularly at AlphaTauri or Alpine. We know that he has had discussions with Helmut Marko, while Red Bull’s sister team has not yet confirmed Pierre Gasly for next year. As for Alpine, they are still searching for a credible replacement for Fernando Alonso after the debacle with Oscar Piastri. Nyck de Vries is expected to participate in testing in Hungary for the French team, alongside other rookies.

Logan Sargeant, an American option for Dorilton Capital.

A second option would be American F2 driver, Logan Sargeant. A name that would indeed please the American owner of Williams, Dorilton Capital. The 21-year-old driver impressed in his debut season in the junior category, and Jost Capito is convinced that he is now “ready” to take a new step and become Alex Albon’s teammate.

But there is still no guarantee that Logan Sargeant will be eligible for F1 next season. For that, he must obtain a Super License by finishing in the top five of the F2 championship. Things are looking pretty good at the moment, with the American currently in third position, but nothing is set in stone yet.

The Mick Schumacher option for Williams

Another possibility for Williams would be to sign Mick Schumacher, whose chances of staying at Haas next year are increasingly slim. The German’s original contract with the Ferrari Driver Academy will also come to a natural end after this season. The driver is therefore free to sign with any team next year. But he could also end up without a seat, like Nicholas Latifi, no doubt.

As for the timing, Jost Capito reiterated that he is not in a hurry to make a decision on the lucky one who will drive for Williams next year. The information could come quickly now that Latifi’s departure is official… Or it may only be revealed in a few weeks, as there are still six Grand Prix races to be held.