Mick Schumacher would be an "obvious contender" to replace Logan Sargeant at Williams if the young American doesn't improve his results in the second half of 2023, according to Formula1.com's Lawrence Barretto.
Sargeant has yet to score a top-ten finish in F1, having achieved his best result year-to-date at Silverstone last month, when he finished just outside the points in P11.
So far, Sargeant's apprenticeship with Williams has been a challenging affair, with the 22-year-old struggling to rein in the mistakes and produce a consistent run of results.
There has been no lack of support for his efforts, however, on the part of Williams. But if the young gun's performances continue to disappoint, the British outfit may feel compelled to consider a change in its driver line-up for 2024.
"The British team, who sit seventh in the standings, already have highly-rated Alex Albon tied up for 2024," Barretto wrote in a column published on Formula 1's official website.
"On the other side of the garage, rookie Logan Sargeant has had a solid but unspectacular start to life in Formula 1, and knows he needs to up his game to stick around for another season.
"Williams have thrown their collective arm around the American’s shoulders and tried to keep the pressure off him in a bid to help him find a rhythm.
"They are backing him to succeed and earn a second campaign in blue – but he needs to not only find consistency but also close the gap to Albon, particularly in qualifying, and get himself on the scoreboard.
"If he doesn’t, his seat is under threat. Mick Schumacher would be an obvious contender, having briefly had talks with the team last year and having kept his hand in through his Mercedes reserve role, where he has earned public praise for his efforts from [Lewis] Hamilton and [George] Russell."
Schumacher's Mercedes connection may well be his main trump card that could allow him to return to the grid in 2024.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is delighted with the young German's services but admits that he would prefer to see him return to active duty in F1. However, the Austrian conceded that there is actually very little that he can do to facilitate Schumacher's return.
"As much as I like the situation for the benefit of the team, I would every day of the week prefer that Mick sits in a cockpit and actually races," said Wolff earlier this summer.
"I’m not even sure that we can facilitate [a seat], because every time we speak highly of him, somebody feels the need to say something negative.
"Wherever I can speak highly and praise Mick, that’s what I’m doing.
"But in the end, it’s every team’s authority to decide on their drivers, and I very much respect that contracts with the teams, whenever you have to take our junior driver, you have to take our reserve driver, because when I was at Williams, I also wanted to have my own choice.
"I think teams are missing out, to be honest."
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