F1 Rumour: Felipe Drugovich Considered For Logan Sargeant's Williams Seat

Williams is reportedly considering Felipe Drugovich for the 2024 season, casting doubts on Logan Sargeant's future with the team.

Recent developments in the F1 paddock suggest that Williams might be considering Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for Logan Sargeant's seat.

Key Takeaways:

• Logan Sargeant's performance with Williams has been inconsistent, leading to questions about his future with the team.
• Williams' team principal, James Vowles, has been supportive of Sargeant but is also keen on ensuring the team's competitive edge.
• Felipe Drugovich, with his impressive Formula 2 record and significant sponsorship backing, is now reportedly in talks with Williams, posing a direct threat to Sargeant's seat.

Logan Sargeant's journey in Formula 1 has been closely watched. Having been fast-tracked into F1 after a commendable stint in Formula 2, expectations were high. James Vowles, Williams' team principal, has consistently shown faith in the young American, often defending him during challenging times.

While rookies often require time to adjust to the demands of the sport, they are also expected to demonstrate their caliber fairly quickly. Comparisons with other rookie drivers is inevitable and the impressive performances from McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson, who is standing in for Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri, has made Sargeant's situation worse.

Sargeant's initial races in Bahrain and Jeddah were promising, but the gap to his teammate, Alex Albon, hasn't narrowed as expected. Adding to the concern are the unforced errors that have started to appear in his races. Addressing his performance, Sargeant recently commented:

“From a pace standpoint, I feel like I’m pretty close to where I need to be. [I have to] just clean it up, start delivering when I need to, and it should be all good.”

While Williams has been patient with Sargeant's learning curve, recent rumours indicate a shift. Reports suggest that Felipe Drugovich, the Formula 2 Champion, is now being considered as a potential replacement. Drugovich's discussions with Alfa Romeo earlier this year, combined with Sargeant's recent crash in Japan, have intensified these speculations.

Drugovich brings not only a stellar track record but also significant sponsorship and a vast Brazilian fan base. With Mick Schumacher reportedly no longer in contention for the Williams seat, Drugovich stands as the primary challenger to Sargeant's position.