Logan Sargeant has been dropped by Williams for the remainder of the 2024 season, and the workforce will promote junior driver Franco Colapinto into its second race seat.
The American’s future has been underneath scrutiny for various months and it was confirmed earlier than the summer season break that Carlos Sainz will take his seat full-time from 2025. Nonetheless, after a heavy crash in FP3 on the Dutch Grand Prix, Williams moved to line up potential replacements and has chosen Argentinian rookie Colapinto to race for the remainder of the 12 months.
“To switch a driver mid-season isn’t a call we have now taken calmly, however we consider this offers Williams one of the best likelihood to compete for factors over the rest of the season,” workforce principal James Vowles stated. “We have now simply introduced a big improve to the automotive and wish to maximise each points-scoring alternative in a remarkably tight midfield battle.
“We additionally consider in investing in our younger drivers within the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a incredible alternative to reveal what he’s able to throughout the ultimate 9 rounds of the season.
“That is undoubtedly extremely powerful on Logan, who has given his all all through his time with Williams, and we wish to thank him for all his onerous work and optimistic perspective. Logan stays a gifted driver and we are going to assist him to proceed his racing profession for the long run.
“I do know that Franco has nice pace and big potential, and we sit up for seeing what he can do in System 1.”
Sargeant leaves Williams with a file of 1 level from 36 begins since making his debut in 2023. Colapinto is at the moment sixth within the System 2 championship in his rookie season.
Colapinto turns into the primary Argentinian to race in F1 in 23 years, and can take over from Sargeant with rapid impact, beginning with this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
“It’s an honor to be making my System 1 debut with Williams – that is what desires are made from,” Colapinto stated. “The workforce has such superb historical past and a mission to get again to the entrance which I can’t wait to be a part of. Coming into F1 mid-season can be an infinite studying curve however I’m up for the problem, and I’m totally targeted on working as onerous as I can with Alex and the workforce to make it successful.”
