Latifi bemoans Williams “unpredictability”

Will Gray
Friday 15 April 2022 18:10

Nicholas Latifi has revealed Williams is still “trying to understand” its "unpredictable" FW44 after F1 introduced radically new technical regulations for the current season.

Williams has been racing at the back of the grid in recent years but a takeover by Dorilton capital has injected new belief under a new regime led by former VW Director of Motorsport Jost Capito.

The new regulations gave the team a potential opportunity to leapfrog up the order, but while other backmarker teams from last year including Alfa Romeo and Haas have made strides into the midfield, Williams is still struggling to get to grips with its new car.

Latifi said: “As a team and on the personal side, we're still trying to understand the car. It's kind of, let's say, performance envelope and the limitations, and it's obvious we're not where we want to be as a team.”

Latifi - Unpredictability is key

Latifi has struggled to find the pace in qualifying, finishing last of the timed runners in the first three Saturday sessions of the season.

The Canadian crashed out of the race in Saudi Arabia and endured a similarly tough weekend in Melbourne as he collided with countryman Lance Stroll in qualifying.

“[We are] not only struggling with overall downforce but also the balance of the car,” added Latifi.

“It's quite tricky at the moment It caught me out a few times with the unpredictability we're having, so it's still learning a lot every session we do.”