Logan Sargeant: How far will Williams' patience go?

Logan sargeant is no longer a rookie. The 23-year-old American began his second season in Formula 1, with a confidence renewed by Williams and his Team Principal, James Vowles. A second season which involves new responsibilities but which above all means that the slightest error or poor performance will have more resonance than last year. And on the first two performances of the year 2024, it is difficult to defend the Floridian's results...

In Bahrain, after a difficult qualifying (18th on the grid, Alexander albon 13th), Logan Sargeant had started well and was in 13th place... before a brake problem compromised his race on the 10th lap, leaving him to finish last, two laps behind the winner. A week later, in Jeddah, the American once again suffered from the comparison with his teammate in qualifying (19th on the grid, Alexander Albon 12th). A starting position which did not allow him to fight for points, stuck in the train Kevin Magnussen a good part of the race.

Vowles protects Sargeant…for now

Two disappointing results, which still place Logan Sargeant a good distance from Alexander Albon, like last season. At the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, James Vowles reminded his driver that he will have to make " progress " throughout the season if he wants to stay with the team in 2025. However, the Williams team principal clarifies that the British team does not expect Logan Sargeant to achieve significant results at the start of the season .

“It’s important for him to get good results (…) but not in this first part [of the season], underlines the British leader. What we need to see from him is that he progresses as we move forward. This first phase of the season could imply that there is a risk of something happening if he is not performing well after three races, but that is not at all the case here. »

“In Logan's case, he knows he finished last year starting to build momentum on what he had as a base of experience, and he comes back here not as a rookie, but as someone one who has a year of experience behind him, adds James Vowles. He must rely on this experience without making mistakes, without making mistakes, and continue to progress. » 

At Williams, we therefore favor patience in order to evaluate the future of Logan Sargeant, in the middle of a transfer market which promises to be hectic with a view to 2025. Despite the support of James Vowles, the American will quickly have to level up and prove his true value if he wants to maintain all his chances of keeping his seat. Behind, the candidates for his succession – starting with the protégés of the clan Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Frederik Vesti – there are many. For Sargeant, time is running out!

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