“No timeline” on Williams 2022 F1 driver line-up call as Latifi targets stay

Current Williams driver George Russell is out of contract at the end of the year and has been linked with a promotion to Mercedes as it weighs up whether to replace Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate.

While Capito stressed there is no timeline to make a final call on its 2022 line-up as Williams waits on a decision from Mercedes, he dismissed the suggestion that the team could hold off on announcing its driver plans until after the season ends. 

“On the driver side, we’ve got time at the moment,” Capito said on Friday at the Austrian Grand Prix. “So we will announce when we can announce the drivers, but we are not in a rush at the moment.

“I don’t think we want to wait until after the season but at the moment, we’ve got time,” he added. “So we have no timeline on when we have to announce. It also depends quite a lot on what happens with George, so let’s see.”

Capito believes Williams could benefit from a late call on Russell’s future by Mercedes with other drivers on the market also looking to secure their place on the 2022 F1 grid.

“We are seeing more and more interest of drivers to join Williams in the future,” he said.

“They see there is a proper financial backing and that the team is willing to move forward and attracts drivers as well. So I think the longer we wait, the better situation we will be in.”

Meanwhile, Nicholas Latifi says remaining with Williams for a third consecutive season in 2022 is his “objective”.

“At the moment I haven’t really been thinking too much about the future,” the Canadian said when asked about his future.

“We obviously still very, very early on in the season. I know it’s the generic answer but it’s the truth for me, my focus really is just on trying to keep making steps and keep improving.

“I would love to stay with the team next year, that is my goal and my objective. If I can be here next year with the same team, that’s 100% what I’m working towards.”