Williams team principal, James Vowles, is contemplating a potential mid-season driver change if Logan Sargeant’s performance in Formula 1 does not see an improvement. Sargeant, the only American driver in F1 at 23 years old, has been with Williams for his second season and earned his sole F1 point by finishing 10th at the United States GP in October last year. Despite this, he has not managed to secure a position higher than 14th so far this season leading up to the British GP on Sunday.
Vowles mentioned in an interview with British broadcaster Sky, as reported on F1’s website, that a decision point will eventually be reached, affecting both the 2025 season and potentially even some alterations for this year alongside Sargeant’s current situation, stating, “But we’re not there today.” Sargeant’s teammate, Alex Albon, has accumulated two points this year and 27 last year. He has already signed a new multi-year contract with Williams but is expected to have a new partner next season – with rumors linking Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. to the team.
Vowles emphasized that the opportunity to retain his seat lies with Sargeant, indicating that he needs to match Albon’s performance consistently. If Sargeant were to lose his spot, 17-year-old F2 driver Kimi Antonelli, supported by Williams’ engine partner Mercedes, could temporarily fill the position. Vowles acknowledged that circumstances have not always been favorable for Sargeant, attributing some of the struggles to equipment issues in previous races.
Earlier in March, Sargeant faced what he described as the “hardest moment” in his career when he was excluded from the Australian GP after Williams allocated his car to Albon due to a crash during Friday’s practice session. Vowles admitted that while some instances were out of Sargeant’s control, there is also a shared responsibility for his inconsistent performances. The decision on Sargeant’s future at Williams remains pending, with two races remaining before the mid-season break in Formula 1.