DAMS announces Latifi for 2018 F2 season, Albon to contest round one
DAMS has announced Nicholas Latifi as its first driver for the 2018 Formula 2 season, with Alexander Albon joining him for this weekend's Bahrain season opener
Latifi's 2018 deal means the Force India reserve driver will remain with DAMS in the Formula 1 support series for a third consecutive season.
He finished fifth last season and scored his first race win at Silverstone.
His pre-season preparations were hampered by a serious infection that forced him to skip the Paul Ricard test as well as a planned F1 outing at Barcelona with Force India.
"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."
Albon has long been expected to be DAMS' second driver for the 2018 campaign, but has so far only been announced for the first round.
"DAMS are very good at understanding and getting the best out of the package, so I'm confident in the team's work," said Albon, who was 10th in F2 last year as a rookie.
"During the pre-season tests, I got on really well with everyone, and I like the way they operate.
"Racing with Nicholas will also be good, as he has plenty of experience, and we're sure to push each other very hard this weekend."
The field for the season opener will be completed by ex-Manor F1 driver Roberto Merhi, who has joined MP Motorsport.
Merhi entered eight F2 races last year with a best finish of fifth place, and drove for MP in both pre-season tests at Paul Ricard and Bahrain.
Full F2 line-up
Russian Time: Artem Markelov, Tadasuke Makino
Prema Racing: Sean Gelael, Nyck de Vries
DAMS: Nicholas Latifi, Alexander Albon*
ART Grand Prix: Jack Aitken, George Russell
MP Motorsport: Ralph Boschung, Roberto Merhi*
Arden International: Nirei Fukuzumi, Maximilian Gunther
Campos Racing: Luca Ghiotto, Roy Nissany
Trident: Santino Ferrucci, Arjun Maini
Carlin: Lando Norris, Sergio Sette Camara
Charouz Racing System: Louis Deletraz, Antonio Fuoco
*only confirmed for Bahrain season opener
Aitken relishing having a second chance to beat Russell at ART
F2 Bahrain: Haas F1 junior Maini beats McLaren's Norris in practice
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
Heading into FIA Formula 2 this season, there was a lot of pressure on Jack Doohan. The 2021 F3 runner-up joined a new team for his next challenge, as well as signing up to the Alpine Academy. He told Autosport how he’s tackling the step up - with some help from his motorcycle legend father
The Brazilian F2 driver hoping to return his country to motorsport's top tier
With a chaotic but “pretty much perfect” FIA Formula 2 weekend in Saudi Arabia behind him, Felipe Drugovich now leads the drivers’ standings in his third crack at the series. The Brazilian driver explains how he's improved amid some difficult years, and shares his dreams of ending his nation's absence from the F1 grid
The Red Bull junior aiming to emulate Piastri in F2
Norwegian talent Dennis Hauger has a tough act to follow in Oscar Piastri’s footsteps on his graduation to F2 as the reigning F3 champion with Prema. Here’s what he makes of the task ahead of him
The other Mercedes F1 young gun facing a big 2022
With a disappointing 2021 season behind him, Frederik Vesti makes the move up to FIA Formula 2 with a reinvigorated sense of determination. Could this finally be the breakthrough year for the talented Mercedes junior?
Ranking the 10 best drivers of an F1 junior series stalwart
DAMS has been one of the most prolific teams below Formula 1 since its foundation in 1989, launching 32 drivers into grand prix racing. Following the team's sale to ex-F1 racer Charles Pic, formally closing the book on the ownership of the Driot family, Autosport picks out its 10 best drivers during their spell with the team
How an F2 enigma hopes ‘coming home’ can reopen doors to F1
After a disappointing 2021, Marcus Armstrong is returning to FIA Formula 2 for another shot at the title in 2022 with Hitech – this time without the backing of Ferrari. This year, he says, he’s ready to give it his all in a last-shot bid to reach Formula 1
The hardships that haven’t dented an F2 rookie’s American F1 dream
Faced with no options for 2021, Logan Sargeant’s Formula 1 dreams looked set to crumble. But a last-minute Formula 3 seat and a strong season secured him an F1 junior berth and a Formula 2 drive for 2022. He told Autosport how his transformative season has affected both his personality and his future