Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant appears to be the driver under the most pressure to retain his seat for the rest of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The last thing the 23-year-old needed at his home race at the Miami Grand Prix was to end up in the barriers, although he’s not completely at fault for that outcome.
Speaking on the On Track GP Podcast, racing driver and pundit Richard Bradley has had his say on the American’s future.
Logan Sargeant may have been slightly fortunate to have been handed another contract at the end of the 2023 season.
He failed to out-qualify his more experienced teammate Alex Albon at any point in the campaign and only scored a single point.
With so many rookies trying to break into Formula 1, it only increased the pressure on Sargeant and so far, he’s not displayed the marked improvement needed to justify his place on the grid.
Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli is being lined up as his potential replacement, possibly as early as the Italian Grand Prix.
However, Bradley believes that Williams should look towards Ferrari youngster Oliver Bearman if they want an in-season replacement for Sargeant.
He proved during his cameo in Saudi Arabia that he’s ready to make the step up from Formula 2.
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Williams told to consider Oliver Bearman as Logan Sargeant replacement
Mercedes are already doing everything they can to prepare Kimi Antonelli for an imminent step up to Formula 1.
He’s already taking part in private tests and will be pitted against Michael Schumacher at Silverstone very soon.
However, he’s not had a standout F2 campaign just yet and rushing him into Formula 1 might do him more harm than good.
One driver who already has plenty of experience at that level is Oliver Bearman and while Antonelli is testing F1 cars, the young Brit now has competitive experience driving them.
Bearman was parachuted in Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at very late notice but scored six points that currently places him above Sargeant and his Williams teammate Albon in the Drivers’ Championship.
Bradley believes that Williams would be much better off trying to bring Bearman in compared to Antonelli, who he’s unhappy has been fast-tracked for a superlicense given his age.
However, there’s one team on the grid who might be very unhappy if Williams do end up approaching the 19-year-old.
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Richards Bradley tells Williams to seek Kimi Antonelli alternative
Talking about the potential options for replacing Sargeant, Bradley said: “Don’t get me wrong, he’s [Kimi Antonelli] clearly a bit special and he’s won a lot, but the jump up from Formula 4 to Formula Regional is not big, the jump from Formula Regional to Formula 2 which he’s in now is humungous and he’s not won a race in Formula 2 yet.
“To then jump into Formula 1 which is another huge step is going to be very difficult for him.
“So, I think it’s a bit of a premature move but I think there’s no question that the kid’s special, he’s definitely the next generational talent coming through.
“If you are going to replace him, you’ve got drivers like Ollie Bearman available!
“There’s so many who are ready to go and have a lot of experience and have proven themselves in that environment.
“Why don’t they take a gamble on him?”
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It appears to be almost impossible for Sargeant to retain his Williams seat for 2025 at this stage and so team principal James Vowles needs to carefully consider the likes of Bearman and Antonelli.
The young Italian is highly rated and Mercedes would be happy for him to drive for Williams as long as they can find a stop-gap replacement for Lewis Hamilton in the meantime.
Williams might have a much tougher time signing Bearman as Sargeant’s replacement given his connection with Haas.
Ferrari appear keen to place the Brit in Ayao Komatsu’s team in 2025 and a seat has opened up after Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Sauber.
He will run in free practice for the team in Imola and is pencilled in to take part in six FP1s this season.
However, the opportunity to be a full-time driver on the grid this year might be very difficult for Bearman to turn down should it arrive.
The post ‘Why don’t they’: Williams told to replace Logan Sargeant with 6-point star instead of Kimi Antonelli – pundit appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
