The American racer, Logan Sargeant, has encountered a challenging start to his Formula 1 career, still seeking his first F1 point amid a series of rookie mistakes. Most recently, he crashed out during qualifying at Suzuka in a dramatic fashion.
Despite these setbacks, Williams Racing sees promise beneath these errors and is determined to retain their academy graduate for the upcoming season. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, James Vowles, who assumed the role of Williams boss in F1 2023, offered unwavering support for Sargeant. Vowles mentioned that clear targets had been set for the young driver, but he highlighted a significant positive: Sargeant’s qualifying pace at Suzuka was “within a tenth” of his teammate Albon’s, even though Albon was driving an upgraded FW45.
Addressing the question of whether Williams is considering parting ways with Sargeant, Vowles emphasized that they are “nowhere near” that point.
It was Jost Capito, who granted Sargeant his Formula 1 seat for this season, noting that the driver excelled under pressure in previous years. However, Capito now suggests a different approach to salvage Sargeant’s career.
“Last year in Formula 2, but also in previous years, he thrived under pressure,” Capito stated. “Pressure seemed to give him an edge. However, currently, it appears the opposite. When pressure mounts, he tends to make more mistakes.”
Capito pointed out that during Saturday’s qualifying session, Sargeant was matching Alex Albon’s time until the final corner when an error occurred. In terms of raw speed, Sargeant is improving, but the pressure seems to lead to minor mistakes with more significant consequences.
Capito’s proposed solution is to reduce the pressure on Sargeant and allow him to drive freely. He believes that by encouraging the driver and emphasizing that mistakes are not catastrophic, Sargeant can perform better.
While the cost cap is also a consideration, Capito believes that nurturing Sargeant’s confidence can lead to fewer errors and a more successful partnership.
As for potential replacements, AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson has already ruled out joining Williams in F1 2024, and Mick Schumacher is not believed to be under consideration by the team.
