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Speaking in Imola ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, James Vowles had his sternest warning yet for Logan Sargeant
Logan Sargeant’s status with Williams for the 2024 Formula 1 season appears safe, according to Team Principal James Vowles.
But 2025 is a much different story.
Speaking with Sky Sports F1 in Imola ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Williams boss made it clear that he has spoken with the second-year driver, and that Sargeant needs to improve his form. Otherwise, Vowles added, his place with the team in the future could be in question.
The Williams Team Principal indicated to Sky Sports F1 that he has engaged Sargeant in a “direct conversation” about the driver’s form, “which is a very hard conversation when you do it.”
“But the simple matter of facts are, what I’ve already explained, is that he is at risk. That’s a simple matter of fact behind it,” stated Vowles. “He has to perform above where he is. This is meritocracy. I’m helping him on that journey. I want him to be successful. But in the meantime, we are talking to a few other drivers because we have to get our ’25, ’26, ’27 line-up correct.”
The “meritocracy” language mirrors what Vowles stated in Miami ahead of the Miami Grand Prix two weeks ago. Speaking then at the FIA Press Conference Vowles addressed the rumors working through the paddock that Williams was seeking a dispensation from the FIA to allow Andrea Kimi Antonelli — yet to turn 18 — to join the grid this season before that milestone birthday.
“We are looking, as everyone else is, for where we want to be on driver line-up for next year and we have our own young driver [program]. In the case of Kimi, I can’t really adjudicate on the level he’s at. In case of him coming into the car this year, I’ve always said from the beginning, it’s a meritocracy,” said Vowles in Miami. “Logan has to earn his seat. And at the moment, he has some tough targets where he has to get much closer to Alex. But there is nothing on the radar at the moment for replacing him.”
Returning to his comments Friday, Vowles said to Sky Sports F1 that “[in] a few weeks you’ll see some potential news in the area” but made it clear that what he is discussing is next season. “[W]hat I’m talking about is ’25, ’26 drivers. Nothing about the season. What I’m talking about is how do we create the right foundations going forward on things,” he added. “It will be me ready to say to the world ‘this is where we are’. Part of it is out of respect to Logan. I’ve given him an opportunity and these are where he has to step up towards things.”
Vowles is adamant that Sargeant’s future is in his own hands.
“I explained to him the controls are within his hands and there is absolutely things he can be doing in order to create an environment for him where he continues within Formula 1,” said Vowles. “It’s not the decision’s done. It’s not the door shut. That’s the whole point.
“I believe in having a human conversation and a human conversation is: This is where you are, this is where you need to be, and I’ll work with you as much as possible but you’re in control of that destiny, not myself,” added Vowles. “That’s how I am fundamentally, it’s how I’ve been through my career and whether it was a driver or an engineer or someone within the organisation, I feel it’s respectful if nothing more to lay out what has to be achieved.”
Sargeant finished P18 in Friday’s first practice session:
Williams brought a set of upgrades to Imola, including a new floor to reduce weight on the FW46. However, those upgrades are only on Alexander Albon’s car, and not Sargeant’s.
Albon’s session ended early after his FW46 experienced a shutdown after the driver ran over a kerb.
