Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams Racing. Formula One Testing, Day One, Thursday 23rd February 2023. Sakhir, Bahrain.

F1: Albon thinks Sargeant should keep Williams seat

(GMM) Alex Albon feels struggling American rookie Logan Sargeant has the speed to be a good F1 driver and just needs to focus on his mistakes.

22-year-old American Sargeant’s seat is the final official vacancy on next year’s grid, but he has been having high-profile crashes recently.

James Vowles (GBR), Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant (USA). Williams Racing.Formula One Testing, Day One, Thursday 23rd February 2023. Sakhir, Bahrain.
James Vowles (GBR), Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant (USA). Williams Racing.

“It’s just about maybe dialing it back a little bit,” he said in Qatar, “making sure I have some clean weekends.”

But although Felipe Drugovich, Mick Schumacher and even Liam Lawson have been linked with the drive, Williams boss James Vowles has made a couple of public comments of support for Sargeant in the past week or so.

“It’s always nice to hear,” Sargeant said. “It was just sort of a nice surprise, really.”

Albon, Sargeant’s experienced and in-form teammate, also offered a few words of support ahead of the Qatar GP weekend.

“I’m not the one to decide,” said the British-born Thai driver. “But I know Logan pretty well. I can see his performance. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.

“There is a lot of speed and talent within Logan,” Albon added. “I’m not the (right) one to say it, but I think it’s just been a little bit offset with a couple of mistakes that he’s had.

“I get on very well with him and I think he just needs a bit more time and confidence – and he’ll get up there.”