Latifi “a fan” of Sprint Weekends

Williams’ Nicholas Latifi declared himself a fan of the Sprint race format in Formula 1 as the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship heads to Austria for round 11 of the season and the second Sprint race of the season.

The Sprint race, held on Saturday, see’s qualifying moved to Friday afternoon, with just a single practice session to set the car up, before the car’s enter Parc Ferme.

Canadian Latifi said: “I’m a fan of these weekends as it’s exciting to change up the normal format.”

Latifi made his first Q2 and Q3 appearances of the season in last weekend’s British Grand Prix, but while he fell back in the race to finish 12^th, the 27-year-old is hopeful of a good weekend in Austria.

“Hopefully we can take advantage of the difference in format that the Sprint event produces and have a solid weekend,” Latifi said.

Team mate Alex Albon had a disappointing Silverstone weekend, where he ran updates on the FW44 car, before qualifying 16^th and being eliminated in the melee at turn 1.

“It’s obviously disappointing we didn’t get to properly test the new upgrade last week, however looking forward to Austria, I know the team has been working hard to make the repairs,” Albon explained.

Williams have struggled for form in 2022, propping up the Constructors’ table with Albon’s three points scored. Latifi, yet to score, has now moved ahead of Aston Martin reserve Nico Hulkenberg, who deputised for Sebastian Vettel earlier in the season, in the drivers’ standings.