Latifi sticks with DAMS for 2018 F2 campaign

Force India F1 test driver Nicholas Latifi returns to DAMS for his third full Formula 2 campaign in 2018 which begins this weekend in Bahrain.

Last year the Canadian driver was an early F2 title contender for the French squad, taking a maiden win in the series during the Silverstone sprint race, before fading to fifth place in the final drivers’ championship.

Latifi will remain part of the DAMS fold for a third consecutive season, joined by Alexander Albon for 2018 who switches from ART Grand Prix, and is already targeting the F2 drivers’ title after two solid foundation years in the F1 feeder series.

“The aim after my 2017 campaign has to be winning the F2 drivers’ championship, while also helping DAMS in the teams’ standings, which we were very close to clinching last season,” Latifi said. “Over my two years with the squad I’ve built up a really strong working relationship with them, and that will definitely help with the new car for 2018.

“Everybody is in the same boat, but DAMS have been working very hard, and I’m sure that we’ll be in the best shape possible for the first race.

“I’m also looking forward to working with Alex this weekend, over the winter we got on and worked well together, and I know that he’ll be a good asset in the opening round from a personal perspective and for the whole DAMS crew.”

The DAMS driver line-up of Latifi and Albon sees just one race seat yet to be filled on the 2018 F2 grid at MP Motorsport alongside Ralph Boschung. The new F2 season gets underway this weekend in Bahrain on April 6-8.