Williams explain why they announced their intention to promote Logan Sargeant before he was even F1-eligible
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Logan Sargeant
For 2023, Williams chose to promote Logan Sargeant, replacing Nicholas Latifi who ended a three-season stint with the team. However, there was a prerequisite: Sargeant would have to get enough points for a super license, which would allow him to compete in F1. His position in the F2 championship meant he would have to fight till the final race in Abu Dhabi – where he successfully secured it.
One thing had been made abundantly clear by the British team: If Sargeant secured the superlicense, he would be their driver for next year. It was a rather curious decision for them to announce him before he was even eligible to compete in F1, but as per now-former Williams boss Jost Capito, there were a number of reasons behind the announcement.
As per Autosport, while the team had looked elsewhere too, Capito says they announced Sargeant as they felt it would unfair on the other candidates (like Mick Schumacher, who was probably the other likeliest candidate after Sargeant) if they were to wait: “We talked to other drivers as well. So I think it’s unfair if we know what we’re going to do to let, for example, Mick [Schumacher] or [Antonio] Giovinazzi or whoever is pushing [for the seat], to let them wait and wait.”
Williams announced Logan Sargeant decision early because it was the ‘fair’ thing to do
It was felt that the early announcement increased the pressure on Logan Sargeant, who would have to be on top of his game and make no mistakes in order to secure the super license in the season finale. However, he did more than enough to secure his seat, so all went well. It’s interesting to ponder on who would have replaced him if he didn’t do what was required of him. Mick Schumacher (whose departure Haas announced only just before the Abu Dhabi GP) would surely be a candidate.
But while it may have increased the pressure on Sargeant, Jost Capito felt it was the right thing to do in the interest of honesty, also to the other people hoping to get the seat: “If you know what you are doing, I think it’s fair to tell them what you are planning to do, and if you tell them what you are planning to do, you can also say publicly. We as a team, we are quite open and straightforward, and honest as well. If we have taken that decision, why should we not communicate it?”
Sargeant will be the sport’s first full-time American racing driver since Scott Speed (at Toro Rosso) in 2007, and he will have three home races – quite a unique situation. But one of them will be particularly special, as the Miami Grand Prix is located only about 30 miles from his birthplace of Fort Lauderdale. He will partner Alex Albon, and will have to prove his mettle to solidify his place in F1.
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)