Logan Sargeant‘s time as an F1 driver has come to an end after two seasons with Williams Racing.
The 23-year-old American driver made his official debut in 2023 with the team, but after last weekend, he is no longer on the Formula 1 team.
In his place, Formula 2 star Franco Colapinto is being promoted from Williams reserve driver to moving up to Alex Albon‘s teammate for the remainder of the 2024 season, making his debut THIS coming weekend at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
Keep reading to find out more…
“To replace a driver mid-season is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season,” Williams Team Principal James Vowles shared in a statement. “We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle.”
“We also believe in investing in our young drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what he is capable of across the final nine rounds of the season,” he continued. “This is undoubtedly incredibly tough on Logan, who has given his all throughout his time with Williams, and we want to thank him for all his hard work and positive attitude.”
While Logan will not be driving on the Formula 1 team any longer, he will still remain part of the Williams family and they will support him in other racing opportunities.
“Logan remains a talented driver and we will support him to continue his racing career for the future. I know that Franco has great speed and huge potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can do in Formula 1,” James added.
While Logan has not released a statement at this time, Franco, who took part in a free practice session at Silverstone in July, expressed his excitement for the opportunity.
“It is an honour to be making my Formula 1 debut with Williams – this is what dreams are made of,” Franco said. “The team has such amazing history and a mission to get back to the front which I can’t wait to be part of.”
“Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve but I am up for the challenge, and I’m fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to make it a success,” he added.
Throughout this season, Logan has struggled to score any points for the team. He is one of only three drivers who currently has zero points in the championship, alongside both Kick Sauber drivers, Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas.
Last weekend, during the third practice session on Saturday (August 24), Logan crashed into a barrier in Zandvoort, smashing up the car, which featured new upgrades, and causing it to catch fire. You can see photos in the gallery!
Logan‘s contract was already expiring this year and there have been rumors for months about him getting replaced this year. Next year, Carlos Sainz will be taking his spot alongside Alex Albon.