Latifi: Abu Dhabi drama 'long in the past for me'

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Nicholas Latifi was inadvertently caught up in the controversy surrounding last December's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the Canadian says he has now moved on from the drama that took place at Yas Marina.

Latifi's crash in the closing stages of F1's title decider triggered the safety car and a change of procedure that led to Max Verstappen snatching the title from Lewis Hamilton after a one-lap shootout between the two drivers.

In the aftermath of the race, the Williams driver was targeted and bullied on social media by those haters who saw the Williams driver as the source of Hamilton's defeat.

Read also: Horner calls for 'better support' for Masi and 'simplified rules'

Two months on from the contentious events that unfolded in Abu Dhabi, Latifi says he has put the moment in the rearview mirror but admits enduring a "tricky" period.

"I already feel that it's kind of behind me. It's past," Latifi told Sky Sports F1 at Sunday's Autosport Awards.

"It was obviously a very tricky few days with everything going on afterwards, but it's part of the sport. It's kind of what I was expecting to happen, as I kind of mentioned in the [social media] post.

"I'm kind of past it now."

However, as the debate over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the fate of F1 race director Michael Masi continues to linger, the 2022 season can't start soon enough as far as Latifi is concerned.

"For sure, once the season picks up, it gives something more important for people to talk about!" said the Canadian who is set to embark on his third campaign with Williams.

"It's long in the past for me now."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.