The list of drivers pushing for a spot on the Formula 1 grid continues to grow, especially after a winter break where all 20 drivers retained their seats.
It’s put additional pressure on the first three Grand Prix in 2024 with plenty of contracts up for renewal and the F1 silly season quickly approaching.
Speaking on the Missed Apex Podcast, journalist Joe Saward believed a change could take place before the end of the year.
Every team principal will be assessing their options and wondering whether their current pairing is good enough to take them forward.
That’s never an easy call to make especially as so many options they could turn to who aren’t in the paddock right now are an unknown quantity in the sport.
Saward believes several teams in particular are taking a closer look than usual at Formula 2.
That could spell bad news for Williams driver Logan Sargeant, as there’s a chance that Mercedes youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli could replace him during the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, the American didn’t get the chance to prove his credentials in Australia and that lack of faith in his ability within the team.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli could replace Logan Sargeant at Williams in 2024
There’s a huge amount of hype around Andrea Kimi Antonelli in racing circles right now.
The 17-year-old jumped from FRECA – the level below Formula 3 – straight into Formula 2 this season.
After three race weekends, he sits in the top 10 of the championship and has impressed compared to teammate Oliver Bearman.
He’s being compared to Max Verstappen such is his progression through the junior formula series right now.
Mercedes are considering him as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton in 2025 but that might come too soon for the young Italian.
Instead, Antonelli might head to Williams and Saward believes he could be replacing Logan Sargeant in 2024.
It would be a huge blow for the 23-year-old after he narrowly held onto his seat after his rookie campaign last year.
However, it won’t be an imminent change thanks to a Verstappen-related rule change and that will be just what Sargeant wants to hear right now.
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Kimi Antonelli not set for imminent Formula 1 drive thanks to rule change
Talking about young drivers who could make their way onto the grid next year, Saward said: “You’ve missed out on one very important name.”
Host Richard Ready said: “Kimi Antonelli, we put him at Williams.”
Saward: “Sound call,” and asked if it was a realistic call, he added: “Yep.”
Ready continued: For 2025?”, but Saward interjected and said: “No, for 2024.”
“I don’t think he’d be dragged [out of F2]. He would be willing to run actually and jump.
“There is something holding him back actually, they’ve only had a few races and he’s beaten [Oliver] Bearman most of the time.
“I think you’ll find if he’s not 18…[he turns it] the week before the Italian Grand Prix.”
Ready replied: “So, Logan only has until the Italian Grand Prix?”
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Saward concluded: “Yes, I would that’s a very sound call. He’s also testing old Mercedes as of now or maybe next week, he’s just doing a whole program of stuff to get ready.
“They’re clearly preparing him for the Mercedes drive, but it would be a little bit harsh to take him too early and he’s a teenager after all.
“You want to do what they did with Max [Verstappen], put him in another team and if you pay Williams enough money because that’s always helpful, I’m sure they’d help him.”
Logan Sargeant has to impress on return to action in Japan
The last thing that Sargeant needs after essentially missing a race weekend is the knowledge that Antonelli could replace him during the 2024 season.
He’s already been told he needs a ‘miracle’ to retain his seat for next season and if Mercedes sense an opportunity they might try and convince Williams that they can’t wait until the winter to make a change.
If Antonelli did join Williams at his home race in Monza, that would give him nine races to acclimatise to Formula 1 ahead of the 2025 season.
Nyck de Vries showed in 2022 that a debut in Italy in a Williams can yield points too.
Given how close the bottom five manufacturers are this season, that would be gold dust for James Vowles’s outfit.
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