Van der Zande: 'With De Vries deployed, Williams is seeking arguments'

Renger van der Zande does not have high hopes for Nicholas Latifi. The IMSA driver thinks that with the use of Nyck de Vries in the first free practice in Spain, Williams is also gathering arguments for when the moment actually comes that they want to actually show Latifi the door.

"Latifi has a very big bag of money. He's not performing, he's going off, he's just not doing well," Van der Zande stated in the Race Café on Ziggo Sport. They also want to have an argument for changing him for another driver soon. If he would now put Nyck aside, be much faster in free practice, then he has another argument that he is good enough to stay."

Williams knows how good De Vries was

That didn't happen, as De Vries turned out to be a tenth faster than the 26-year-old Canadian as they completed the same program at the Barcelona circuit. Of course, Williams can play with engine power, with weight and with the amount of fuel that is given. "At Williams they know exactly how it is. Here at the table there is no clue", states the Dutch driver.

De Vries has in any case asserted himself positively Friday afternoon. It is still unclear whether Mercedes' Formula E driver will be allowed to get in for a first free practice session more often this season. In conversation with Viaplay he let us know that the chance is certainly there, but for which team that would be, is still uncertain.