Logan Sargeant was unable to participate in the race in Melbourne due to his more experienced teammate, Alex Albon, damaging his car during practice. As a result, Albon, who is considered the team’s top driver, was given Sargeant’s car because there was no third chassis available.
According to team principal James Vowles, as stated in a debrief on the Williams Formula One website, both drivers will be racing at Suzuka. Vowles, speaking from the Williams factory in Grove, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to repair Albon’s damaged chassis. The chassis was transported back to the factory early Monday morning and immediately underwent repairs.
Vowles explained that originally, the team had planned to have three chassis for the start of the season, but due to delays, they only had two. The work on the second chassis is also experiencing some delays, but Vowles assured that a third chassis will be available soon.
Building a chassis is an extensive process that requires thousands of hours of work in the composites department. It is one of the most significant tasks within a Formula One team. Despite Albon’s strong performance in Melbourne, where he earned 27 out of the team’s 28 points, Williams has yet to score any points in the three races so far this season. Vowles anticipated that the bottom five teams would be in a close battle throughout the season, with the top five teams dominating the points standings.
Vowles admitted that prioritizing Albon over Sargeant in Melbourne was a difficult decision but one that was made based on performance. He acknowledged that the team is aware of their current position and the amount of work required to improve.
However, there is a higher chance than usual that one or both of the Williams cars may not qualify for the race on Sunday at Suzuka. The demanding nature of the old-school track increases the risk of incidents, and the Williams drivers have not instilled much confidence in their abilities at this challenging venue. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)