Formula 1 News: Vesti has chance to take Sargeant’s seat for ’24 (Update)

(GMM) Mercedes has played down rumors linking F1 junior driver Frederik Vesti with Logan Sargeant’s Williams race seat for 2024.

Although Williams boss James Vowles said in Abu Dhabi that he is still not ready to confirm Sargeant’s deal for next year, he has been consistently hinting that the struggling 22-year-old American has done enough to secure a second season.

Then, on the radio after the 2023 season finale on Sunday, Sargeant’s race engineer Gaetan Jego told him: “I’m looking forward to next season with you, mate.”

The Finnish media source MTV then quoted Vowles’ response when asked about the radio message.

“It’s pointless to get ahead of things,” he said. “Whatever happens, Logan has been in our academy for years, and he’ll always be a part of it. He’s a very fast driver.”

Germany’s Sport1 also quoted Vowles as saying: “I think you can see signs that he’s doing exactly what we need him to do to earn his place.

“But we are not yet in a position where we can confirm that at this moment.”

If Williams really is still undecided, the obvious top contender to replace him is Danish 21-year-old Vesti, the Formula 2 runner-up who is being strongly supported by Vowles’ former Mercedes colleague Toto Wolff.

But Gwen Lagrue, the head of Mercedes’ driver development program, played down the prospect of a surprise leap onto the grid with Williams for Vesti in 2024.

“Parts of his (F2) season were very strong,” Lagrue told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. “Fred finished with six wins, while Theo (Pourchaire) was champion with just one.

“But we didn’t lose the championship in Abu Dhabi. We lost it at Spa, Zandvoort and Monza. It cost us some momentum and had an impact on the discussions over the summer.”

Those “discussions”, it is believed, were not just with Williams but also Alfa Romeo-Sauber, who ultimately decided to stick with Chinese Guanyu Zhou for another season.

Vesti will get another run in Mercedes’ 2023 car in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

“After this, I will sit down with Fred and Dorte (Riis Madsen) and talk about the future,” said Lagrue, referring to Vesti and his manager.

“But it is already certain that he will be part of the Mercedes family into the future. We have plenty of work for him.”

(GMM) Rumors that Abu Dhabi is Logan Sargeant’s last Formula 1 race for now are building steam. Did his check not clear?

Mercedes junior and top Formula 2 driver Frederik Vesti, a 21-year-old Dane, practiced in Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on Friday – and is being linked with a debut for Mercedes-powered Williams in Sargeant’s place for 2024.

When asked about whether he will be offered a new contract for 2024, American Sargeant admitted in Abu Dhabi: “It’s a good question. Honestly, I don’t know.”

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher says he was surprised to see and hear Williams boss James Vowles’ answer when he asked about Sargeant’s future in Las Vegas.

“I thought it’s probably because Vesti is on the wish list and they’re watching him closely here in Abu Dhabi,” he told Sky Deutschland. “I hear that Williams will be allowed to see the data.

“Maybe they have to take the decision for next year now,” the German added.

Vowles, though, who is still close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff despite becoming Williams’ new team boss this year, says he’s not ready to make the call.

“The decision will not be made this weekend in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“When you’re talking about the future of the team and the future of a young man, I would like to make the decision in peace, after the race weekend.”