While uncertainty surrounds Sergio Perez’s position at Red Bull, another racer lower down the grid is also facing questions regarding his future with his present team.
The last available seat for the 2024 season is currently held by Logan Sargeant at Williams, who experienced yet another crash at Suzuka this Sunday, adding to his high-speed qualifying collision.
Speculation is rife about whether the 22-year-old American newcomer can even make it to the end of the season, which includes two home grand prix races in Austin and Las Vegas.
Team manager James Vowles told Swiss paper Blick: “We will give Logan the chance to prove himself until the end of the season.
“Other drivers I can think of were given two years to do that,” he added, potentially alluding to Haas alumnus Mick Schumacher, who is not in the running to replace Sargeant at Williams.
Commenting on Sunday’s crash that followed Saturday’s, Vowles said: “It was unfortunate. Until then he was as fast as Alex (Albon). And on a track like Suzuka.”
For his part, Sargeant took responsibility for the accident involving Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas on Sunday.
“Of course that’s my mistake,” he admitted. “But Bottas obviously didn’t notice that I’d locked the wheels.”
Finn Bottas told Viaplay: “He was on the inside, but I left enough space. It was clearly his fault.”
Regardless of what transpires for the rest of the 2023 season, many insiders speculate that Williams might opt for someone new in 2024, possibly the well-funded Brazilian rookie Felipe Drugovich.
“Sargeant’s situation is beginning to echo what occurred with (Nicholas) Latifi,” noted renowned racer Toni Vilander on Viaplay.
“The guy seems to be a bit out of his depth.”
