Sargeant's F1 future still undecided; Vowles has alternatives available

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be Logan Sargeant’s final race weekend for the foreseeable future as Williams has yet to make a decision on the American’s future.

Sargeant is closing out his rookie season that has so far yielded a solitary point in Austin last month, and team principal James Vowles stated ahead of that race that he had set the Floridian a number of targets to hit between then and the end of the season. Having said he would not make a call on whether Williams retains Sargeant until the final race, Vowles has confirmed his thinking has not been altered by increased consistency and a career-best qualifying performance of sixth in Las Vegas last weekend.

“100 percent, I haven’t changed my view on it,” Vowles told RACER. “The reason why I set it out so boldly before, is I wanted to take the entire season and then take time to properly digest every single race, assess the growth, assess the potential and assess the direction of travel.

“Being any different to that, it’s a decision that will affect us as an organization, and a decision that will affect an individual’s entire career that he’s put into things, so it’s not one that you take lightly.

“I think the world has seen that Logan six races ago is different to the Logan that was here just a race or two races ago. I hope the world can also see why we’re taking our time to make that decision; you’re looking for progress across time and then forecasting how that will look next year.”

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While Vowles suggests he wants to see Sargeant deliver another performance this weekend that helps him retain the seat, he admits he has replacement drivers he knows he can turn to if needed.

“I have alternatives [that are available to me] should we go down that route. My preference -- and I’ve said it all the way through -- is to provide Logan with the right environment where he can flourish and therefore earn his place.”

Sargeant says he’s unsure whether he will get a further chance in 2024 but that he’s trying not to put too much pressure on the final race given the form he’s shown in recent rounds.

“I wish I knew as well!” he told RACER. “I’m not sure [if there’s a second season] is the honest answer. The most important thing is it’s been getting better and better throughout the second half of the year, and from my side just try and have another strong weekend and figure it out after this weekend.

“I just take it race-by-race. Obviously I want to be here next year -- that’s the goal. It’s been getting better and better, so I am confident with how I’m driving. I’m confident coming into this race; it’s a track I know well, so just plan to continue on what we’ve been doing and just taking it as it comes.

“It is what it is. I’m obviously going to do my best, try and put myself in the best position and if it happens, it happens. That’s how I look at it.”