Williams had a rocky start to the 2024 F1 season. Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant are yet to score their maiden points of the season. However, things took a turn for the worse at the Australian GP. Albon’s chassis critically crashed during FP1 and was rendered useless for the entire weekend.
Following the crash, Alex Albon was given Logan Sargeant‘s Williams FW46 chassis for the weekend. Sargeant would be forced to sit on the sidelines as the British-Thai driver races for the Grove-based team. The American driver claimed this was the hardest moment in his career. Williams faced heavy criticism over this act from multiple people on the grid including F1 pundit Craig Slater.
Slater explained the entire situation and why Williams decided to sideline the 23-year-old. Craig Slater highlighted that the situation was ‘Brutal and Ruthless’ for Sargeant and how the fans were in favor of the sidelined driver. The F1 presenter added that the American driver didn’t deserve this as he wasn’t the one who damaged the chassis.
It’s brutal, it’s ruthless, it’s a public vote of no confidence for Logan Sargeant, who is a really nice young guy, 23 years of age, second year in Formula 1, Does he deserve it? No. He didn’t wreck his car. Alex Albon wrecked his and gets given Sergeant’s car. Craig Slater said on Sky Sports F1.
Subsequently, Slater asserted that being deserving to race had nothing to do with this situation. Williams team boss James Vowles took the decision in the team’s best interest. The pundit recalled the 2023 season where Albon scored 27 points as compared to Sargeant’s sole point down the season. As a result, providing the car to the driver performing better than the 23-year-old was needed for Williams according to Slater.
But deserve has nothing to do with it. This is James Vowles, the Williams team principal, thinking, ‘What do I need to do? Well, I’ll put the guy in the car who’s claimed 27 points compared to Sargeant’s one point last season, who has been consistently better than Logan Sargeant. Craig Slater asserted
James Vowles admits Logan Sargeant was ‘clearly hurt’ by Williams’ decision
Logan Sargeant’s situation at the Australian GP disappointed many fans. Albon’s mistake not only cost the team but also the 23-year-old. Hence, the team principal James Vowles admitted how the American driver was hurt by this decision. Vowles still applauded Sargeant’s performance in the season so far.
Logan has been tremendous. He’s here to support the team in this regard. He’s clearly very much hurting as a result of this decision, but equally strong in as much as he knows the team above all else is the priority. James Vowles said on @WilliamsRacing/X
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