James Vowles Confident Logan Sargeant Can Race At Suzuka

Motor Racing Formula One World Championship Australian Grand Prix Practice Day Melbourne, Australia
Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian Grand Prix, Friday 22nd March 2024. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
Motor Racing Formula One World Championship Australian Grand Prix Practice Day Melbourne, Australia
Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian Grand Prix, Friday 22nd March 2024. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

James Vowles says he’s “confident” Williams will have a car at Suzuka for Logan Sargeant to race.

The decision to eject Sargeant from his car to give it to the other side of the garage following Alex Albon’s practice crash in Melbourne was highly controversial.

“It’s incredibly hard for the bottom five teams to finish in the points,” Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko told Speed Week this week. “That’s why I understand Williams’ decision.

“Albon is the much stronger driver and a championship point can be worth $10 million,” he said. “In that respect it was a logical thing.”

The fact that Williams still has no spare chassis so deep into the new season, however, is arguably less forgivable – especially as a third monocoque will still not be ready in time for the Japanese GP.

It has even been rumoured that Williams will not even be able to repair Albon’s original chassis for Suzuka – logically sidelining Sargeant yet again.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to fix the chassis,” team boss James Vowles insisted late on Wednesday, revealing that the damaged car got back to the Grove factory at 2am on Monday morning.

He said it’s now being stripped down and repaired – and the damage is extensive.

“The engine mounts were completely bent,” Vowles admits. “The front right corner, where the suspension goes in, is torn apart – I can put my finger into the chassis at that point.”

However, he added: “We’re in a good place for having the chassis back early enough for Suzuka. So we’ll have two cars there without too many issues.”

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

F1 Grand Prix Of Canada

McLaren Driver Equality Is ‘Playing With Fire’

As far as championship leader Oscar Piastri is concerned, he ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Austria Previews

Max Verstappen Explains Ongoing F1 Media Attitude

Max Verstappen giggled to the Dutch media as he explained ...
Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly Called Management After Shock CEO Exit

Pierre Gasly says he followed through on contacting management after ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Singapore Final Practice

Sergio Pérez Claims Red Bull Regrets Dropping Him

Pérez says Red Bull “very sorry” for ending his contract, ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Canada

Verstappen, Wolff Not Fans Of Le Mans Rules

Toto Wolff has joined Formula 1 rival Max Verstappen in ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle