Sargeant, who joined Williams after finishing second in the 2022 Formula 2 championship, has faced a steep learning curve in his first year in the top tier of motorsport. He has been outperformed by his experienced team-mate Alex Albon, who has scored 14 points and secured a podium finish in Turkey. Sargeant, on the other hand, has failed to finish in the top 10 in any of the 19 races so far, and has been involved in several incidents and crashes that have cost him and the team valuable track time and resources.
The most recent example was at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Sargeant crashed out of qualifying in Q1 and then collided with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas in the race, forcing both drivers to retire. Sargeant’s car was so badly damaged that it could not be repaired in time for the next race in Brazil, and he had to use a spare chassis with older parts. Sargeant finished 18th in Sao Paulo, while Albon came home in seventh place.
Vowles’ message of support
Despite Sargeant’s disappointing results and mistakes, Williams have not given up on the 22-year-old, who is the only driver on the 2024 grid whose seat has not been officially confirmed yet. In a rare move, Vowles, who is the team’s chief strategist and one of the most influential figures in the pit wall, publicly expressed his backing for Sargeant and his potential.
In a video message that was shared across Williams’ social media platforms, Vowles said: “Logan has very clear targets of what he has to hit before the end of the season, and we are working with him, we want him to succeed and we want him in the car next year. We will continue to work with Logan and invest in Logan, as we want him to succeed as the result of the journey he’s on. He’s on a journey with us as Williams. We have a young driver programme that we will continue to invest in.”
Vowles’ statement was a clear indication that Williams have made their decision about Sargeant’s future and that they are willing to give him another chance to prove himself in 2024. It was also a sign of confidence in Sargeant’s talent and potential, as Vowles is known for his analytical and data-driven approach to strategy and performance.
Sargeant’s reaction and team-mate’s support
Sargeant, who was unaware of Vowles’ message until after it was posted, said that he was pleasantly surprised by the public show of support and that he appreciated the team’s faith in him. He said: “It’s always nice, I mean, from my side, I talk to James every single weekend. I knew that before anything was put on social media. It was just sort of a nice surprise, really. I didn’t know that was coming. But at the end of the day, I have to just keep working hard, keep my head down, and try to be better.”
Sargeant also said that he felt that he had improved throughout the season, despite the setbacks and challenges, and that he was determined to have a clean and strong finish to the year. He said: “Japan, including the lap until the last corner in quali, was my best weekend to this point, 100%. I built it up nicely, did everything I needed to, I was just too heavy on the right foot in the last corner and that’s how quickly it can go wrong. I think realistically now it’s just more important to have a clean weekend and not go for every last hundredth, even if that means I’m leaving a tenth or two on the table.”
Sargeant also has the support of his team-mate Albon, who said that he believed that Sargeant deserved more credit for his performance and that he hoped to continue their partnership in 2024. Albon said: “I’m not the one to decide, but I know Logan pretty well. I can see his performance. I do think he doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.”
Williams’ prospects for 2024
Williams, who have been one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history, have endured a difficult period in recent years, finishing last in the constructors’ championship in 2018, 2019 and 2020. However, the team has shown signs of recovery in 2023, scoring 28 points and moving up to eighth place in the standings, ahead of Alfa Romeo and Haas. The team has also benefited from the investment and leadership of its new owners, Dorilton Capital, who took over in 2020, and its new CEO, Jost Capito, who joined in 2021.
Williams are hoping to continue their progress in 2024, when a new set of technical regulations will be introduced, aimed at making the cars more competitive and exciting. The team has already secured a long-term deal with Mercedes to use their power units and gearboxes, and has also signed a technical partnership with Red Bull to use their rear suspension and transmission. Williams are confident that these agreements will give them a competitive edge and help them close the gap to the front-runners.
With Albon already confirmed for 2024 and Sargeant likely to join him, Williams have a young and talented driver line-up that could deliver the results that the team and its fans are longing for. Sargeant, who has shown glimpses of his speed and potential, will have a chance to redeem himself and prove that he belongs in Formula 1. Williams, who have nurtured and supported him throughout his difficult rookie season, will be hoping that he can repay their trust and faith with points and podiums.
