To get to Formula 1 there are many paths, though they all boil down to having money or talent. Many times one of the two is enough to enjoy a season of Maximum, while in some cases both add up to something more than interesting.

The SportingNews not only reviews his sports history Nikolaos Latifi, but also their assets, contract and links. The importance of his father, the threats of his followers Lewis Hamilton and pressure from Canada, a country accustomed to success in F1.

Nikolaos Latifi: his millionaire father’s bank to fulfill the big dream

Raised in a family with influences from different parts of the world (his father is Iranian and his mother is Italian) Nikolaos Latifi He started motorsport at the age of 13. Like the rest of the F1 grid, he started in karting and worked his way up the ladder: he raced in Formula One cars in Europe to set foot in F2 for the first time in 2017. In 2019 he was second and in 2020 he entered Máxima in Williamsa team in which he has accumulated three campaigns.

Throughout this journey, his father was fundamental. Michael LatifAn Iranian-born businessman who fled to Canada at the age of 15 after the 1979 Iranian revolution, he was not only Nicholas’s main sponsor, but also Williams’. He gave the team a loan to solve during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Latifi Sr. is its owner, president and CEO Sofina Foods, mark seen on the rear fender of the Williams. The company is dedicated to food production. Its turnover exceeds 2 billion dollars annually.

Michael Latifi not only wants his son to compete in F1, he also wants to get his own team. He tried unsuccessfully to take over Force India when it went bankrupt and then bought 10% of the McLaren group for $200 million. In his garage are two Ferraris: a Michael Schumacher F2004 and a Kimi Räikkönen F2007.

The threats of Lewis Hamilton fans

Drivers from rich families have the nickname of only being in Formula 1 for their bank account. With more accidents than races on the points, Nikolas Latifi’s present invites us to think about why he maintains his place among the best in the world.

His most famous accident occurred at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he inadvertently claimed Max Verstappen’s title. Lewis Hamilton was on his way to his eighth F1 title when the Canadian lost his way and forced the safety car into action. The Dutchman entered the pits to change tyres, while the Briton did not. This move would give the win and the championship to the Red Bull driver.

What started with teasing ended with threats. Through social networks, Latifi was harassed and even feared for his life. Many of Máxima’s pilots came to his defense, especially George Russell, with whom he was a teammate and they have a great relationship.

“It sounds funny and silly, but we definitely take death threats seriously. It could be a drunk fan at the airport or meet someone who is having a bad day, who is drunk, under the influence of someone or something and has these extreme views. It only takes one person in a million, so some days when I was in London after the game, I had security with me when I did certain things.” admissible.

Pressure from across Canada

Canada is an important country in Formula 1. It has a Grand Prix on the calendar since 1967 (51 editions) and a world title, which it won Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. However, he has not been a star for years.

Jacques’ last celebration of 11 was in Luxembourg in 1997. previously his father, Gilles, had signed six wins at Maximum. Lance Stroll, also part of the current grid, came close and took the podium three times.

Latifi is the 13th Canadian to compete in Formula One, making him the fourth-most in history.

Is Nikolaos Latifi a millionaire?

As mentioned above, Nicholas Latifi is the heir to a grocery empire, so he is guaranteed a good financial life for the rest of his life.

He is projected to make $1 million in the 2022 season. To this must be added what he has earned since making his F1 debut in 2020: he has earned close to 3 million, while he has the backing of brands such as Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Sofina and Lavazza, a coffee company . These last two belong to his family.

“I don’t know why people criticize pilots when they have financial support. The business model in Formula 1 has changed. It’s a much more expensive sport than it used to be, so sometimes these situations will arise.” Claire Williams pointed out in 2017