Williams has yet to choose the driver that will race alongside Alex Albon in 2023, but the British outfit knows what it is searching for: someone who will be able to fight with the Anglo-Thai racer at every race.
Nicholas Latifi will leave Williams at the end of the season after three seasons with the Grove-based squad.
Unfortunately, a look at the Canadian's track record since 2020 as well as at his performances relative to his two main teammates – George Russell and Albon – provided Williams with little incentive to keep the 27-year-old onboard.
Potential candidates to replace Latifi include Williams junior Logan Sargeant – who will run with the team in FP1 next week in Austin, Haas' Mick Schumacher and Ferrari protégé Antonio Giovinazzi, although the latter is also in contention for a seat at Haas.
Regardless of who will fill the seat, Williams head of vehicle performance Dave Robson has a clear idea of what the team is looking for when it comes to its future recruit.
"We need someone who will push Alex along and will be fighting with him every race," said Robson. Ideally someone who is after similar traits from the car.
"We’ll see where we go. But all we want to do is have two competitive cars pushing each other into Q2, Q3 and beyond."
Nyck de Vries initially appeared to fit the bill, but the Dutchman's name was crossed off Williams' short list last week upon the confirmation by Red Bull of his deal with AlphaTauri.
Assessing Albon's first campaign with Williams, Robson admitted that the Anglo-Thai racer had some big shoes to fill when he took over from the talented George Russell, but so far he has acquitted himself well.
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"It was a shame to lose George and all of the input that he’d had but Alex has jumped in, he’s got experience of what quick cars feel like and he’s fitted in very well," Robson said.
"And he strikes that right balance as well, I think, between understanding what’s possible, but at the same time pushing and motivating everybody. So he’s a great influence and he works hard and really pushes us along.
"In terms of what they’re trying to achieve, then yes, of course, they [Albon and Russell] are very similar, similarly motivated and they want to achieve the same thing. In terms of their personality traits, then they’re quite different.
"Alex, I think can come across as being very quiet and mild-mannered, and very friendly. And he is, but at the same time he is pushing hard.
"So I think the way their enthusiasm manifests itself is a little bit different and inevitably, that takes a little bit of time to get used to and as we understand each other.
"There’s enough similarities there that Alex can push us along and pick up where George left off."
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