Williams have replaced Logan Sargeant with academy driver Franco Colapinto for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Sargeant, 23, has been under pressure this year and in July it was announced Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will join the team for the 2025 campaign to partner Alex Albon.
At the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, the American crashed his car heavily in third practice, causing extensive damage which meant he was unable to take part in qualifying.
In a statement, Williams said Sargeant “will remain in the Williams family”.
Argentine Colapinto, meanwhile, said the opportunity is “what dreams are made of”.
The 21-year-old Formula 2 driver added: “The team has such amazing history and a mission to get back to the front, which I can’t wait to be part of.”
After the crash at Zandvoort, team principal James Vowles went to speak to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner about the availability of some of the drivers on their roster.
But Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson might not have been available for all the remaining races as uncertainty hangs over the futures of both Sergio Perez at Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo at second team RB.
At Mercedes, team boss Toto Wolff said at the Dutch Grand that he had decided their Italian protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is expected to race for the team next year, should not have his preparations in Mercedes test cars disrupted.
And Williams had already turned down Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher last winter, preferring to keep Sargeant.
So Vowles decided to stick with the team’s young driver programme, and promote Colapinto for what will be a nine-race cameo.
Vowles said the decision to swap Sargeant mid-season was not taken lightly.
“We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle,” Vowles added.
“This is undoubtedly incredibly tough on Logan, who has given his all throughout his time with Williams, and we want to thank him for all his hard work and positive attitude.”
Sargeant made his debut in Formula 1 in 2023 and has scored just one championship point – at the United States Grand Prix in October – from 36 grands prix entries.
Colapinto will make his first start for Williams at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend.
He took part in first practice at Silverstone before the summer break and is sixth in the F2 drivers’ championship.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c3vxek6v192o
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Publish date : 2024-08-27 17:47:30
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