In Melbourne, Sargeant was forced to give up his seat for Alex Albon after the Thai driver had a crash during practice at Albert Park. This led to the public revelation that Williams team principal James Vowles failed to ensure that his team had an extra chassis available.
Consequently, the team’s top driver took over Sargeant’s car. The damaged chassis was then transported by air to Grove, where the team repaired it in time for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend. However, Sargeant had a major crash during FP1 on Friday.
Sargeant commented on the incident, stating, “After a week off, I came into this round feeling more refreshed and ready than ever. So, it’s not about confidence. I was a bit disappointed with myself today, but it had nothing to do with that. It was simply a visual mistake that I will learn from and move on.”
Sargeant, who is known for his frequent crashes, is only in F1 because his boss Vowles believes in him for some reason, despite the abundance of talented young drivers on the fringes of the sport who deserve a chance.
Following Sargeant’s crash at the venue in September 2023, Vowles remarked, “As we approach the end of the year under the cost cap, it’s important not to overproduce parts. We’ve had more attrition than anticipated, to be fair. This means we’ll have to divert attention from other areas to produce more spare parts before the end of the year.” This sheds light on how Sargeant’s recklessness affected the production of their 2024 car, yet they still kept him as a driver.
During the team principal’s press conference hosted by the FIA on Friday, Vowles addressed the reporters after another embarrassing session for Williams. He stated, “The damage to the chassis is quite significant. Fortunately, the chassis itself is fine, but pretty much everything else is not. The suspension all around is damaged, the gearbox is cracked, and there is substantial damage.”
Regarding Sargeant’s second costly mistake at the venue, Vowles explained, “At the top of the hill, he had difficulty seeing his position on the track. It seems that he didn’t realize where he was in relation to the grass on the outside and ended up putting a wheel on the grass.”
The head of Williams F1 then proceeded to explain the predicament of Sargeant: “I have been conversing with him throughout the week, and actually for the past few weeks, because it is crucial to maintain close contact with a driver in this situation. We have placed him in a difficult position, not due to any fault of his own.
“However, I must say that he has maintained a positive mindset this week and even last night when I spoke to him around 9 or 10pm. He remains strong and is eager to get back in the car, but not with the intention of proving himself to the world. It is simply his usual approach.”
Vowles then shared his assessment of Sargeant’s recent mistake: “The error you witnessed here was not a result of the driver pushing to the limit. It was a different type of mistake, a frustrating one at that, because it did not occur at the car’s limit. There was more potential for turning.
“He simply lost track of the car’s position on the track, contrary to his expectations. Therefore, I do not believe that his performance is indicative of someone who did not drive in Melbourne. It is more than just a situation that could have happened at any time,” Vowles explained on behalf of his driver.
While the attention is focused on the crash-prone Sargeant and Albon, they are overshadowing the true issue at hand – the dismal state of the Williams F1 Team under Vowles’ leadership. This unfortunate circumstance also distracts from the fact that ‘The Man of Many Words’ failed to ensure his team was prepared for the 2024 F1 season.
Furthermore, the news is not favorable for Williams and their drivers, as Vowles disclosed the extent of his miscalculation: “I anticipate that the third chassis will not be available until Miami, which is a significant delay.
“In terms of the chassis, if we dedicate all our resources and efforts towards it, it would take approximately eight to ten weeks to complete one, from the initial stages to the final product. This estimation applies to the third chassis.
“Of course, the process takes longer for the first ones as we familiarize ourselves with it. However, it is important to note that our entire organization is not solely focused on this task. We are simultaneously working on spares, updates, and maintaining the workflow.
“At this stage, there is a tremendous amount of work being done within the organization. It was never our intention to be without three chassis. Our plan was to have all three ready at the start of the year.
“The current situation is a result of an overwhelming workload within the system, caused by the complexity of this car and the high volume of tasks we were attempting to accomplish,” Vowles concluded.
Vowles stated: “The magnitude of it in terms of complexity is immense. I mean, the structure consists of numerous components that need to be assembled simultaneously.”
The weather conditions favored Williams at Suzuka on Friday. Due to the severe damage of the chassis caused by Sargeant during FP2, there was no opportunity for repairs, resulting in the driver being a mere spectator during a rain-soaked session with minimal track time. In essence, the lack of practice affected his competitors as well.
Suzuka is a traditional racetrack that severely penalizes errors, as demonstrated on Friday. The fact that this occurred early in the race weekend implies that, despite having completed a full F1 season, Sargeant is still struggling. He has proven unsuccessful in the premier league.
As devoted F1 enthusiasts, all we can do for Logan is hope and pray that he avoids any harm until Vowles and the Williams team realize their mistakes. (Reported by Agnes Carlier from Suzuka)
FP1 was briefly halted following this crash involving Logan Sargeant #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/dPN5ek6CBl
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 5, 2024