This happened quickly. The F1 driver market is in upheaval even during the season. After Williams team principal James Vowles had already reprimanded his driver Logan Sargeant several times this Formula 1 season, the fiery crash in the 3rd Free Practice at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was too much. The American has been banned from the cockpit with immediate effect and replaced by Williams junior driver Franco Colapinto, who will make his F1 debut in the FW46 with start number 43 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
“It is an honor for me to make my Formula 1 debut with Williams – this is the stuff dreams are made of,” said Colapinto. “The team has a fantastic history and aims to return to the top. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
James Vowles: Incredibly hard decision for Logan Sargeant
For Logan Sargeant, the Formula 1 adventure comes to an end – for now – after 36 Grands Prix, during which he managed to score one championship point. The team emphasized that the American remains part of the Williams family and that they will continue to support his career. The specifics of what this means were not elaborated on by the racing team. Sargeant’s cockpit had recently been linked to Red Bull junior Liam Lawson and Mick Schumacher.
“This is undoubtedly incredibly hard for Logan, who has given everything during his time at Williams, and we want to thank him for his hard work and positive attitude,” said team principal James Vowles. “Replacing a driver mid-season is not a decision we took lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to fight for points in the remainder of the season.”
Sargeant’s teammate Alexander Albon has managed to finish in the points twice this season – thus independently collecting the team’s four championship points. “We have just made a significant upgrade to the car and need to optimize every opportunity to score points in a remarkably tight midfield battle,” emphasized Vowles. However, the team’s latest update brought not only positives, as evidenced by the disqualification in qualifying:
Too many crashes from Sargeant! Christian Danner: “At some point, it’s no longer funny”
For our Motorsport-Magazin.com expert Christian Danner, the decision is clearly understandable. “A Formula 1 driver has to be able to get through a race weekend without crashes and spins,” said the former F1 driver in the AvD Motorsport-Magazin. “It also adds to the difficulty that these were new parts he destroyed.”
Williams does not exactly have the greatest resources and the highest budget to withstand constant accidents. “It’s all really very uncomfortable,” said Danner. “Such things can happen from time to time, we know that, but with this sustainability when it happens, and with the (lack of) performance, there comes a point when it’s no longer funny.”
What else Christian Danner had to say about the options for Williams team principal James Vowles, and how he assesses the championship chances of Lando Norris against Max Verstappen, can be seen in the latest edition of the AvD Motorsport-Magazin:
Christian Danner: Williams should replace Sargeant immediately! (33:38 min)
Franco Colapinto: Difficult Formula 2 rise during the F1 season
Colapinto has already sat in the FW46 once this season, participating in the 1st Free Practice at the British GP in Silverstone. His main role this year has been in Formula 2, where he has achieved a victory and two additional podium finishes with MP Motorsport. In the overall standings, he ranks sixth with 96 points – 69 points behind the leading Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar.
“I know Franco has good pace and great potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve in Formula 1,” said Vowles. Colapinto himself knows what a steep learning curve awaits him starting next weekend in Monza.
“Entering Formula 1 in the middle of the season will mean a huge learning curve,” he admits. “But I am ready for the challenge and am fully focused on working as hard as possible with Alex and the team to make it a success.”
Logan Sargeant has known for several weeks now that he will not be driving in Formula 1 in 2025. This is how the American reacted to his dismissal:
The 21-year-old will be the first Argentine in Formula 1 in 23 years, stepping into the footsteps of his compatriot Carlos Reutemann, who drove for Williams between 1980 and 1982 and achieved three victories during that time. Logan Sargeant before him also faced a similar burden: he was the first American in Formula 1 since Scott Speed 15 years before him. With his tenth place at the USA GP 2023, Sargeant secured the first F1 points for his country since Michael Andretti in 1993.
Sargeant was unable to meet expectations. Now it is up to Colapinto to do better in the remaining nine races of the season. However, he cannot make a recommendation for the next season: both Williams cockpits are already filled for the F1 season 2025 with Alex Albon and newcomer Carlos Sainz.
After the Dutch GP, alarms rang not only at Williams but also at Red Bull Racing, where there is fear and anxiety about pursuer McLaren and the championship chances of Lando Norris. In our video, Christian summarizes the situation:
Norris takes down Verstappen! Is Red Bull losing both F1 titles? (09:56 min)