‘I like my chances’: Logan Sargeant backs himself to secure super license despite missing out on extra point in Mexico
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Logan Sargeant
Williams have made clear their intentions to promote Logan Sargeant for 2023, in place Nicholas Latifi. But there are still some prerequisites to be fulfilled. His FP1 run in the US gave him an extra super license point, and his run in Mexico was meant to do the same, but he fell short of the 100km target. There’s still one more in Abu Dhabi to go, however. He’s currently on 28 super license points and needs 40.
A sixth-place finish in Formula 2 (he is currently third), combined with an extra super license point from the FP1 run, and a penalty-free weekend (Sargeant does not have any penalty points currently, which is worth 2 extra super license points), should see him secure the super license. But anything is possible in Motorsport, and he might yet miss out. One more lap would have done it, but the session ended early after Sargeant’s Carlin teammate Liam Lawson stopped on the side of the track.
Speaking after the session, Sargeant said it was ‘unfortunate’ that he couldn’t complete the 100km target: “I think the two red-flags didn’t help. To be honest, I think we did everything we could, we completed a lot of laps, we were running out there as much as we could, and, it’s just unfortunate, I guess.”
When asked how this session compared to his previous one in Austin, the American driver said: “I was definitely a lot more comfortable coming into today.” adding that: “All in all, it was a good step forward, and good progress from last weekend.” He also said that the altitude (around 2200m) did not give him any problems, and he found it physically easier than Austin.
What is Williams’ backup plan in case Logan Sargeant misses out on super license?
When asked if he is feeling ‘extra pressure’ to attain the super license points, and how it has affected his FP1 objectives considering Williams have already announced their intention to put him into the main seat: “Not necessarily, I think to the last round, it’s obviously tight in Formula 2. But the chips are on the table, and we’re all going to be going for it, and one to go, I like my chances.”
But as said before, anything can happen in Motorsport, and while he and Williams will desperately hope for an optimal weekend, the team do need a backup plan if things don’t go as planned. Speaking to Formule1.nl, Jost Capito said: “There will be drivers who don’t get a contract. Those are also very good drivers who have a super license, so that will be fine.”
Of course, aside from the extra super license points, these sessions, plus the young driver test at the end of the season, will also help Sargeant to prepare himself better for Formula 1, which is the intention: “That means he has to spend as much time in the car as possible, which is why we give him three free practice sessions. That also gives him extra super license points, which never hurts.”
It’s certainly all to play for in Abu Dhabi. Logan Sargeant is currently third in Formula 2, but the gap down to his teammate Liam Lawson in seventh is only 12 points. His weekend must be spotless, because if he finishes seventh, he will miss out on the super license, by just one point. To say that would be a painful situation is likely an understatement.
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)