Mid-season driver swaps aren’t uncommon in Formula 1 especially when a driver has been underperforming for some time.
Last season, Nyck de Vries lost his seat to Daniel Ricciardo and the Australian is under pressure himself this year.
Speaking on the Racing News 365 Podcast, journalist Ian Parkes has suggested that another driver faces the prospect of not seeing out the season.
There are still five drivers on the grid who are yet to score a point in 2024.
Both Sauber drivers are in that position and might lose their seats at the end of the current campaign.
Pierre Gasly saw his teammate Esteban Ocon score Alpine’s first point in Miami but hasn’t graced the top ten this season.
Williams are also lagging behind and while Alex Albon has been rewarded with a new contract, Logan Sargeant is firmly rooted to the bottom of the Drivers’ Championship.
There has now been a suggestion that Sargeant could be replaced by Kimi Antonelli before the Dutch Grand Prix.
Several things need to fall into place for that to happen, but team principal James Vowles still has a couple of months before he needs to make a final decision.
READ MORE: Who is Mercedes academy driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Everything you need to know
Kimi Antonelli could replace Logan Sargeant before the Dutch Grand Prix
When the doubled-waved yellow flags came out in Miami at the last Grand Prix, there would have been a collective sigh from the Williams garage when the camera panned to Logan Sargeant’s car in the wall.
While the American wasn’t deemed to have been at fault for the collision with Kevin Magnussen, it was another opportunity to impress his employers that he couldn’t grasp.
Sargeant finally out-qualified teammate Alex Albon in the Miami Sprint qualifying for the first time, although only because the Thai driver’s final lap was deleted.
His best finish this season is 14 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and he was withdrawn from the following race in Australia so that Albon could use his chassis after destroying his in practice.
It appears as though Sargeant doesn’t have a long-term future in Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix could see Kimi Antonelli in his seat.
The Mercedes youngster is testing F1 cars behind the scenes and Toto Wolff wants him on the grid.
However, there is still one key hurdle that Antonelli has to overcome to make his Formula 1 debut.
READ MORE: Williams driver Logan Sargeant’s life outside F1 from height to Donald Trump ties
Kimi Antonelli F1 debut in 2024 can’t be ruled out
Talking about the 17-year-old, Parkes said: “I’m not still ruling out the possibility that he’s [Kimi Antonelli] going to be in a Formula 1 car before the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
“The bottom line is that for consent to be given, for the exception to be given, there has to be unanimity between F1, the FIA and the 10 teams.
“So, you can assume that F1 and the FIA will likely come together on it and it then becomes a case of will any of the 10 teams object.
“Why would anyone outside of Williams and Mercedes want to object is another question to be asked.
“What have they got to gain by objecting to one team, Williams, let’s call it like it is, why would they object to dropping Logan [Sargeant] and bringing Kimi in the car?”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Antonelli doesn’t turn 18 until the Sunday the Dutch Grand Prix takes place which is an issue if he’s going to replace Sargeant after the summer break.
Special dispensation has been requested for the Italian to earn a superlicense before his 18 birthday but it’s unclear whether it will be granted.
Max Verstappen doesn’t believe the rule should exist, but other teams on the grid might try and block the move if they think it will improve one of their rivals.
For now, Antonelli needs to concentrate on Formula 2 which returns in Imola and Sargeant needs to put in a performance that convinces Williams he deserves to see out the rest of the season.
The post ‘Not still ruling out’: Journalist suggests one driver swap could happen ‘before’ the Dutch Grand Prix appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
