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Latifi, Williams

Mercedes move for Russell a chance for Latifi to shine - Capito

Latifi, Williams — Photo: © LAT Images

Mercedes move for Russell a chance for Latifi to shine - Capito

Latifi will be joined by Albon at Williams this year

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Williams CEO and team principal Jost Capito believes George Russell's switch to Mercedes for the upcoming season gives Nicholas Latifi a chance to shine.

Russell has made his anticipated step up to the Silver Arrows after three years with Williams, two of which were partnering Canadian Latifi as the team built itself up under new ownership.

Whilst the British driver often received the plaudits for his qualifying form, Latifi was never far away, although the qualifying format tended to skew the gap between the two drivers.

The 2021 points table saw Russell finish ahead by nine points, although most of that gap can be explained by the Belgian Grand Prix non-event that saw Russell pick up a maiden podium - albeit with half-points awarded - through his qualifying efforts.

Asked if Russell's move provided Latifi with his own chance to shine, Capito told GPFans in an end-of-season interview: "Definitely, that's a chance for Nicky.

"I think Nicky was not demotivated or in a bad mind because he was very often as fast as George, just the results didn't show it.

"It was a couple of times in qualifying, where it was not up to him that he couldn't be as fast as George.

"The times... we expected him [to be] minimum as fast as George, and his race performance was really, really good in a couple of races or most of the races actually.

"I think he can try [this year], there is no doubt."

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