James Vowles flies to the rescue of Logan Sargeant, extension in sight
The Team Principal of the Williams team has come to support their driver, who has recently been noticed for several accidents.
The only regular driver who has yet to score points, Logan Sargeant is having a difficult first season in F1. Not only is he unable to keep up with his teammate Alex Albon, but [the American driver is also the one who inflicts the most damage to his team](/f1/actualite/31785-classement-pilotes-plus-couteux-accidents.html).
Since the resumption of the championship in the Netherlands after the summer break, the Floridian has stood out with several off-track incidents behind the wheel of his Williams, whether it be in qualifying or during the race. For example, he caused a red flag during Q1 in Suzuka, after going off track in the final corner of the Japanese circuit.
A desire to keep it next season
That was enough for Sargeant to become the subject of numerous rumors about his future in F1. A possible replacement by Liam Lawson as part of a loan from Red Bull was even mentioned, but this option has recently cooled down. Despite the paddock rumors, the Team Principal of Williams wanted to show his support for his driver by revealing his wish to keep him for 2024, in a video published by the Grove-based team.
« Logan has clear goals by the end of the season and we are working with him constantly, begins the British leader. « We want him to succeed and we want him in the car next year. This depends a lot on us too. We took someone directly from F2, without significant trials, and then we put him in the car for a day and a half during the tests in Bahrain before the start of the season. This was terribly difficult for a rookie. »
Volwes then justified Sargeant’s performances by comparing them to his teammate’s.
There are several positive signs to note. Logan does not have the same aerodynamic specifications as Alex. We often have upgrades available for Alex’s car but not for Logan’s, due to the wear and tear on the parts we have encountered this year. Taking the example of Suzuka, he made progress throughout the weekend with a lap time close to Alex’s in Free Practice 3. Then in qualifying, he was only one tenth of a second behind before his accident on one of the most demanding circuits of the year.
The former right-hand man of Toto Wolff at Mercedes concludes by stating that Sargeant’s potential is real.
« The progress is there but has been hindered by several problems and accidents. We will continue to work with Logan so that he succeeds. »
First American driver since Alexander Rossi in 2015
American driver, the first in F1 since Alexander Rossi in 2015, Logan Sargeant enjoys strong marketing appeal to an increasingly large audience across the Atlantic when it comes to Formula 1. This season, and also in the upcoming 2024 season, three Grand Prix are scheduled in the land of Uncle Sam.
The presence of an American driver in a team owned by Dorilton Capital, an American investor, within a sport that is growing in the USA is a significant advantage for a team like Williams. Sargeant’s nationality should therefore be taken into consideration by Volwes and his team when thinking about which driver to place alongside Alex Albon.
In addition to the second Williams seat, Lance Stroll’s seat at Aston Martin has still not been confirmed. As the last six Grand Prix of the season loom, there is not much time left to wait to know the final 2024 grid.
