Williams still ‘continually evaluating’ mid-season driver change

Williams team principal James Vowles still hasn’t dismissed a mid-season change to the outfit’s driver line-up, as Logan Sargeant’s tenure remains in jeopardy.

Despite a rookie season in the sport marked by a string of costly crashes and a single championship point on the board, Sargeant was handed a sophomore year in F1 with Williams.

But his results have remained inconsistent and underwhelming, with far too little bright spots, while he has also struggled to narrow his performance gap to Williams teammate Alex Albon.

Unfortunately, Sargeant’s days in F1 appear numbered, with the only question being whether the 23-year-old will finish this year’s campaign or succumb to a mid-season exit.

“We’re continually evaluating it,” Vowles said last weekend at Silverstone, quoted by RACER.

“What we’ve said to Logan is it’s a meritocracy. You have to make sure you earn your place in the sport continuously. That’s been the same message that has been for 18 months really for him. And we are open-minded to things.”

• Read also: Albon all smiles after ‘fun’ British GP and top-ten result

However, Vowles also acknowledged that Williams itself isn't blameless.

“What I’ve said before and I’ve maintained today, is that our car — and this is a responsibility on my shoulders and the team — isn’t quick enough.

“It’s not a driver issue we suffer from today. We’ve simply been out-developed and we have to make sure we accelerate that process.”

While the odds of a mid-season driver change at the Grove-based outfit have increased, the search for Sargeant’s replacement for 2025 is also ongoing.

Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz remains the dream target for Williams, but Vowles suggests a decision won't be rushed.

“I’ll go back to, he’s a world class driver,” the Briton said, commenting on the talented Spaniard. “So the decision isn’t imminent. It’s not today that we need to make it.

“But what I’ve said all along is actually the timeline is less important to me. What’s more important is that whatever decision we come to or the driver comes to, it’s about forging a long-term relationship with each other — i.e. both see the journey we’re on and want that to be a part of their lives.

Vowles expects a resolution during F1’s upcoming summer break.

“I’m fairly sure you’ll see all this cleared up before we get to September,” he added. That’s the normal time.

“If you look at a normal routine, we’re actually just now going back into what is a normal schedule where August is spent doing contracts. But I’m pretty sure you’ll find it all cemented by then.”

While Sainz is the top target, Vowles hints at a Plan B - or even C!

“Fundamentally, yes ,” he said. “Simple answer to it … I think we’re on about Y or Z by now, just to be clear.

“But no, there’s a lot of moving parts to it. More than the world will see, but it will all make sense, I think, once it fans out.”

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