Why Williams decided to axe Sargeant for Colapinto

Formula 1 teams don’t like to change their drive line-up mid-season because it’s disruptive, but so disappointed were Williams with Logan Sargeant’s performances this season, boss James Vowles felt he had no choice but to axe the American and bring in Franco Colapinto for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

Sargeant was rewarded with a second season in F1 alongside Alex Albon for 2024, with Vowles putting his arm around Sargeant and trying to help him maximise his talents.

However, he maintained that F1 is a meritocracy and it was down to Sargeant to prove he deserves to stay. The 23-year-old has failed to do that.

His performance curve has levelled out – and at times dipped. He has failed to score a single point this season – the closest he came was 11th, one place adrift – while his team mate Albon has scored two ninth places for four points.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 20: Franco Colapinto of Argentina and MP Motorsport (12) looks on in the — Franco Colapinto is to replace Logan Sargeant for the remainder of the 2024 campaign

And he’s cost the team a lot of money with two significant crashes – one in Japan and most recently in third practice in the Netherlands. That last crash hurt a lot, as that car was packed with a precious new aero package – in what was the team’s first major upgrade of the season – and it was intended to lift the team into a points scoring position. In a matter of seconds, it was in bits.

That was the final straw. After Sargeant’s crash on Saturday, Vowles spent the afternoon and evening making enquires with other teams about drivers who might be able to replace Sargeant at short notice for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

They were in a slightly tricky position in that they only needed a driver for nine races as Carlos Sainz had already signed to drive for the team in place of Sargeant for 2025 and beyond.

Sources say Vowles spoke to Red Bull boss Christian Horner about borrowing highly-rated Liam Lawson – who is desperate to get back on the grid after a stellar stand-in showing for the injured Daniel Ricciardo last season.

2024 Dutch GP: Sargeant crashes heavily into the barriers at turn 4

However, that wasn’t a possibility as Red Bull weren’t keen on losing their reserve driver, not least because they may need to draft him in to one of their teams – Red Bull or RB – if Sergio Perez’s form tails off in the next few races.

They are locked in a tight fight with McLaren for the constructors’ championship and committing to loaning out Lawson for the rest of the season simply wasn’t an option. Equally, Williams weren’t willing to take Lawson on the basis that they could have to release him during the season if Red Bull required his services back.

There were some suggestions that Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher could be in contention – but sources say the German son of seven-time world champion Michael was never a frontrunner for a step back onto the grid with Williams.

With Williams convinced a change was required immediately, they opted to promote from within and take on their junior academy driver Colapinto, whom they ran during FP1 at Silverstone earlier this year.

Mick Schumacher before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort in — Sources say Mick Schumacher was never a frontrunner for the spot at Williams

The team rate the Argentine – who is currently sixth in F2 having scored one win and two second places this year – highly and believe bringing him in is the best option as they look to maximise the upgraded car and score points to catch Alpine for P8 in the constructors’ championship.

Colapinto was in the Williams factory on Tuesday as part of his driver academy duties. This was an opportunity to get his eye in on the simulator ahead of flying to Italy on Wednesday to begin what will be some rapid preparations for his grand prix debut.

It's a massive task for Colapinto and ultimately a massive risk to bring in a rookie, but the team believe he is a fast learner who can adapt quickly to his new challenge.

It means Sargeant’s 36 Grand Prix run in Formula 1 comes to an end – and it remains unclear what lies in store.

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 24: Logan Sargeant of United States and Williams looks on in the — Logan Sargeant's 36-Grand Prix run in Formula 1 has come to an end

Williams say he remains part of the Williams family since he is part of the driver academy and, as part of that connection, they will help him find a drive in another series outside of Formula 1.

The American cut a sad and disheartened figure in Zandvoort and it was evident he realised time was running out to keep his seat for the remainder of the season after he crashed in practice.

He’ll leave F1 having become the first American driver to score a point in F1 since Michael Andretti 30 years ago – and while he has failed to make himself a mainstay in F1, there is a belief in motorsport circles that he has the talent to forge a career in other racing series.