Logan Sargeant from Williams Racing FW46 had a crash during the first practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix on April 5, 2024. This incident occurred during the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 4, at Suzuka, Japan, on Practice Day.
The Williams driver, Logan Sargeant, has denied that his crash during FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix was similar to the mistakes he made in his first season of Formula 1. Sargeant made numerous errors during his rookie campaign, including a collision with the barrier at Suzuka in October last year.
Upon his return to Japan, Sargeant encountered another mishap, crashing into the barrier during the first practice hour at the Dunlop Curve. This caused damage to both his gearbox and suspension, although his chassis remained unharmed as Williams did not have a spare tub available for this weekend.
While he was unable to participate in FP2, the limited running due to a light shower allowed for Sargeant’s car to be repaired in time for the final practice session tomorrow.
Reflecting on the incident, Sargeant admitted that he made a foolish error by placing his car in an unexpected position, especially during P1. However, he emphasized that this mistake was not comparable to the ones he made last year, as it was not a result of pushing too hard. He expressed relief that the team only suffered minor damage.
Sargeant dismissed the idea that missing the Australian Grand Prix, which allowed his teammate Alex Albon to use the only functioning chassis, affected his confidence. He stated that he felt refreshed and ready to go after a week off, and that his mistake had nothing to do with confidence but rather a visual error that he plans to move on from.
Williams Team Principal, James Vowles, agreed with Sargeant’s assessment, acknowledging that the incident was not a result of pushing the limits. He explained that it was a different type of mistake, frustrating because it did not occur at the car’s limit. Vowles clarified that Sargeant simply misjudged the car’s position on the track, unrelated to his absence in Melbourne.