(Motorsport-Total.com) – Williams has made a decision: Logan Sargeant is losing his seat in the British Formula 1 team with immediate effect! Starting with the Italian Grand Prix next weekend in Monza, Franco Colapinto will race as a Formula 1 rookie in the FW46. The 21-year-old Argentine will thus be Alexander Albon’s teammate for the remaining nine Grands Prix of this season.
Franco Colapinto will finish the season for Williams
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This also means that Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 comeback has fallen through. The German was considered one of the candidates for a possible replacement for Sargeant and was even actively supported by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, but Williams team principal James Vowles has made a different decision.
Instead, they are giving another opportunity to a driver from their own youth ranks with Franco Colapinto. Colapinto has been part of the Williams driver academy since 2023 and has been competing in Formula 2 this year.
“It is an honor to make my Formula 1 debut with Williams – this is the stuff dreams are made of,” says the Argentine. “The team has an incredible history and a mission to get back to the top, and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”
“Coming into Formula 1 mid-season presents an enormous learning curve, but I am ready for the challenge and fully focused on working as hard as possible with Alex and the team to make it a success,” Colapinto stated.
With a seasonal victory in the sprint race in Imola, the Argentine currently sits in sixth place in the overall standings, surpassing the second Williams junior Zak O’Sullivan, who despite having two wins to his name – including the main race in Monaco – is only in tenth place in the overall standings.
Colapinto, who finished fourth overall in Formula 3 in 2023, can already look back on Formula 1 experience this year. He was allowed to participate in the Friday practice for Williams in Silverstone, and now his Grand Prix debut in Monza follows.
Sargeant’s Formula 1 exit thus concluded
For Logan Sargeant, his Formula 1 career comes to an end after 36 Grands Prix for now. The American managed to score only one point in his two seasons with the team and lost every qualifying duel against teammate Albon.
Time and again, Sargeant was on the brink, but it was likely his crash in the third practice session in Zandvoort last weekend that pushed the situation over the edge. Sargeant made an unnecessary mistake and damaged his car, which had new parts, so severely that he could not participate in qualifying.
The decisive scene? Logan Sargeant crashes in Zandvoort Zoom
Now team principal James Vowles has pulled the plug: “The decision to replace a driver mid-season was not made lightly, but we believe that this gives Williams the best chance of fighting for points in the remainder of the season,” he said.
“We have just made a significant upgrade to the car and need to maximize every chance for points in a remarkably tight midfield battle,” Vowles added.
“We are also investing in our young drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a fantastic opportunity to show what he is capable of in the remaining nine races of the season.”
Williams will continue to support Sargeant
“For Logan, who has given everything during his time at Williams, this is undoubtedly a tough blow, and we want to thank him for his hard work and positive attitude,” he continued.
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“Logan remains a talented driver, and we will support him in continuing his racing career in the future. I know that Franco has great speed and enormous potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve in Formula 1.”
However, Colapinto’s stint will only be temporary, as Williams has already assigned its seats for 2025 to Albon and current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.