After days of intense speculation, it is understood that Williams have decided to replace Logan Sargeant. Team principal James Vowles has reportedly run out of patience with the 23-year-old, preferring to put someone else in the car mid-season. As it stands, a new name is set to join the Grove-based team.
Williams have chosen to replace Logan Sargeant mid-season
One mistake too many
Even before Sargeant crashed out in Zandvoort FP3, damaging his newly upgraded FW46, he was on thin ice.
Of course, Williams confirmed in the summer that Carlos Sainz would replace him in 2025. So in this sense, Sargeant’s future with the team was already on borrowed time.
However, the prospect of being replaced mid-season was always a distant possibility.
James Vowles touched on this idea earlier in the season, eluding that a driver change before the end of 2024 was on the cards.
At the time, it was speculated that Kimi Antonelli was the driver that Sargeant would make way for. Although a Williams stint has been ruled out for Antonelli, there are other drivers who can fill in for Williams.
As first evidenced at the Australian GP, when Logan Sargeant was withdrawn after Alex Albon’s crash, the British team’s belief in the American has always been limited.
With that said, their trust in his abilities has clearly deteriorated since then.
According to Dutch journalist Erik van Haren, the call has officially been made to replace the 23-year-old.
Franco Colapinto to replace Logan Sargeant
Several drivers have been mentioned as candidates to race for Williams in the remaining nine rounds.
Liam Lawson was among them, with James Vowles showing an interest in his services. However, Red Bull were only willing to send Lawson on loan under certain conditions.
These stipulations, which almost certainly included a clause allowing Red Bull to recall Lawson at any time, prevented negotiations from advancing.
Mick Schumacher was the other driver previously seen as a front-runner to race for the Grove-based team.
Toto Wolff, who first tried convincing Williams to sign Schumacher last year, has again voiced his support for the German driver.
As a Mercedes reserve driver who is regularly present in the paddock, Schumacher is an obvious and convenient choice.
However, it appears that James Vowles is not convinced by the 25-year-old.
Based on the most recent information, Franco Colapinto could be the one to replace Sargeant at Williams.
The 21-year-old is currently a Williams junior driver, sitting 6th in the Formula 2 standings in his rookie season.
Amidst the focus on Gabriel Bortoleto and Kimi Antonelli, Colapinto is quietly putting together a strong campaign.
In an unexpected turn of events, it could be Franco Colapinto who drives alongside Alex Albon for the remainder of 2024.
