Although every driver on the grid has to have an incredible amount of confidence in their ability to reach Formula 1, that can quickly disappear if results don’t go your way.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has had a great season but admitted after the Spanish Grand Prix that it was the least confident he had been during his Formula 1 career.
There were some disappointing results for the likes of Visa Cash App RB and Aston Martin who both missed out on points when rivals Alpine recorded two top-ten finishes.
However, speaking on DRS: De Race Show, former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde spotted another driver looking very down.
Another team who would have hoped for an awful lot more from the race in Spain was Williams.
Although points might have been out of their reach – they’ve only recorded one top-ten finish in 10 race weekends – Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant were rooted to the bottom of the time sheets.
Albon managed to find a way past Yuki Tsunoda but Sargeant was the only driver to be lapped twice during the race.
Van Der Garde admitted that Sargeant’s body language throughout the weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix was really worrying.
Not only is the car not performing but his chances of securing an F1 future beyond 2024 look incredibly unlikely.
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Logan Sargeant’s body language a worry at the Spanish Grand Prix
Talking about the £15,000-a-week driver, Van Der Garde said: “This week I saw online somewhere that he has signed a contract with PREMA to do IndyCar next year.
“So I understand that there are contacts there [Sargeant raced for PREMA in Formula 3], and if he wants to go to America.”
Asked about how he got into F1 ahead of the likes of Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire, Van Der Garde continued: “It has to do with money and I think his original.
“They would like of course to have an American in the field, he did OK in Europe, but then the logical choice is if you have money and you are an American, you can also take that step to go to Williams.
“Only this is now the end of the story, he has to finish the season and shake hands with everyone and go back to America.
“You don’t like it when you’re constantly beaten by your teammate, the team is constantly pushing and pulling, saying, ‘It must be better, you have to get closer to [Alex] Albon’.
“At a certain point, you snap, you can already see last weekend his attitude, how he stands, shoulders down.”
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Logan Sargeant may already be lining up his next drive after Formula 1
Team principal James Vowles publically admitting that he was looking for two world-class drivers earlier in the season was the most public stance Williams have taken yet that Logan Sargeant won’t be driving for them next year.
Suggestions that he could be replaced by Kimi Antonelli during the summer break have subdued but Sargeant would be wise to start thinking about alternative options for 2025.
It appears as though Sargeant is starting to think about a move to IndyCar which is where several top F2 drivers who never made it to Formula 1 have headed in the past.
The American was rushed into F1 when Williams needed a driver in 2023 following Nicholas Latifi’s struggles but Sargeant simply hasn’t developed at the necessary rate.
He’s unfortunate that there is so much volatility in the driver’s market this year giving Williams a plethora of options.
Staff within the team have been impressed by his recent progression, but unfortunately, it’s not enough to earn him a third year in Formula 1.
The post ‘Shoulders down’: Giedo van der Garde says £15k-a-week driver’s body language was so worrying at Spanish GP appeared first on F1 Oversteer.