Logan Sargeant is a man under serious pressure on the Formula 1 grid with his performance in every session being heavily scrutinised.
He’s having to deal with his team principal James Vowles publicly courting other drivers on the grid with a view to replacing him in 2025.
Journalist Ian Parkes was speaking about the American driver on the RacingNews365 Podcast.
Logan Sargeant was afforded an additional season to prove that he was capable of reaching the required levels to stay in Formula 1.
He was the final driver to be offered a contract for 2024 with several exciting youngsters such as Felipe Drugovich and Liam Lawson waiting in the wings.
Unfortunately, Sargeant hasn’t reached the required levels of consistency to guarantee his place on the grid next year.
However, the feeling among staff at Williams is that he hasn’t performed as badly as many of those outside of the team have suggested.
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How Williams staff feel about Logan Sargeant after tricky 2024 F1 season
Although there is a noticeable gap between Sargeant and his teammate Alex Albon this season, it’s not entirely fair to see that’s completely down to the 23-year-old.
Williams have been playing catch-up since pre-season, with the development of the FW46 going down to the wire.
They were only able to shakedown the new car when they reached Bahrain and suffered more mechanical issues than any other team over the three days of testing.
However, Albon and Sargeant were walking a tightrope in the first few races, knowing that one mistake could cost them their opportunity to race with spare parts virtually non-existent.
It meant Sargeant had to sit out in Australia when Albon destroyed his chassis in FP1 and the American had to hand his over to allow his teammate to race.
New parts are being delivered to Albon first, via Motorsport Week, such as in Monaco when Sargeant was using last year’s rear wing.
Sargeant does appear to be on his way out of the team with Carlos Sainz potentially in line to replace him.
However, staff at Williams have been pleasantly surprised by the step forward Sargeant has taken this year.
It’s unlikely to be enough to save him but suggests he has made some improvements that may have gone unnoticed among his mistakes.
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Logan Sargeant in a precarious position at Williams
Talking about a potential mid-season swap between Sargeant and Antonelli, Parkes said: “There are different things at play here. The first on Williams’ side is if they’re allowed to do it.
“If Mercedes give them the go-ahead, what have they got to lose? They’ve got an underperforming driver in Logan Sargeant who OK yes he has made a step forward this season if you speak to anybody within the team.
“They have quite clearly stated that compared to what he achieved last year which wasn’t a tremendous amount but he was given an opportunity for this season, that he has actually taken a step forward.
“But he’s been out-qualified by Alex Albon in every single Grand Prix in which he’s taken part.
“He’s not scoring points, he’s not come close to scoring points, so why not just give him the opportunity? There’s nothing to lose.”
Logan Sargeant still has the support of Williams staff amid Kimi Antonelli rumours
The news that the FIA is willing to reduce the age required to earn a Super License under special circumstances to 17 would not have gone down well within the Sargeant camp.
It’s almost certainly aimed at Kimi Antonelli who has been linked with replacing Sargeant in the coming weeks.
Williams use Mercedes’s power units and have previously loaned George Russell from Toto Wolff’s outfit to aid his development as a driver.
If Williams need a stop-gap before Sainz’s potential arrival in 2025, Antonelli may be the man to end Sargeant’s current spell in F1.
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