DAMS has confirmed that Force India tester Nicholas Latifi will continue to race for the team in Formula 2 this year.
Latifi stepped up to the series with DAMS in 2016 and claimed his maiden win at Silverstone last year en route to fifth overall in the standings, and his continuation at the team had been expected for several months.
Latifi will be joined for this weekend’s Bahrain season-opener by Alexander Albon, the 2016 GP3 runner-up who placed 10th last year in his rookie season with ART Grand Prix.
Albon had been expected to partner Latifi for the full season but his presence on the grid beyond the upcoming Bahrain round has not yet been confirmed.
“The aim after my 2017 campaign has to be winning the Drivers’ Championship, while also helping DAMS in the teams’ standings, which we were very close to clinching last season,” said Latifi.
“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.”
Added Albon: “The new car is sure to reset the playing field, and it will be about who can get on top of that when we get going in Bahrain.
“DAMS are very good at understanding and getting the best out of the package, so I’m confident in the team’s work.
“During the pre-season tests, I got on really well with everyone, and I like the way they operate.”
Elsewhere, ex-Manor Marussia F1 driver Roberto Merhi is set to link up with MP Motorsport.
F2 2018 driver line-up:
Russian Time: Artem Markelov, Tadasuke Makino
Prema: Sean Gelael, Nyck de Vries
DAMS: Alexander Albon*, Nicholas Latifi
ART Grand Prix: Jack Aitken, George Russell
MP Motorsport: Roberto Merhi*, Ralph Boschung
Arden: Maximilian Gunther, Nirei Fukuzumi
Campos: Luca Ghiotto, Roy Nissany
Trident: Arjun Maini, Santino Ferrucci
Carlin: Sergio Sette Camara, Lando Norris
Charouz: Louis Deletraz, Antonio Fuoco
*Confirmed for Bahrain only
