We’re less than a quarter of the way through the current Formula 1 season, but already several drivers know that they need a good result soon.
There are only 20 spots on the grid and with talented drivers such as Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman anxiously waiting for their chance, the pressure is already rising.
Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, commentator and pundit Alex Jacques was talking about one driver in particular who looks nervous every time he steps into the car.
The main talking point of the Japanese Grand Prix was the collision between Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon on the first lap.
The stewards didn’t penalise either driver describing the crash as a racing incident, although Ricciardo didn’t appear to know Albon was on his right-hand side.
That hasn’t stopped former driver Giedo van der Garde from suggesting that Albon’s positioning was ‘very stupid’ considering the shortage of parts Williams have right now.
However, that piled the pressure on Logan Sargeant and Yuki Tsunoda to perform when the race restarted as their team’s only remaining driver.
Tsunoda once again handled that pressure beautifully, securing a valuable point for Visa Cash App RB.
Unfortunately, Sargeant also ended up putting his Williams in the gravel and Jacques has suggested he always looks ‘on the brink’ whenever he’s in the car.
The £15,000-a-week driver needs to find a way to improve quickly otherwise he may be in danger of losing his F1 status.
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Logan Sargeant always looks ‘on the brink’ in his Williams
The 23-year-old turned up at Suzuka with a point to prove after a miserable Grand Prix in Australia.
After watching his teammate destroy his chassis during FP1, Sargeant was the one left watching on for the rest of the weekend as team principal James Vowles gave Albon the nod to take part in the rest of the weekend.
The Thai driver narrowly missed out on scoring the team’s first point and didn’t have the opportunity to fight for a top-ten finish on Sunday after his contact with Ricciardo.
Unfortunately, Sargeant’s Japanese Grand Prix weekend got off to the worst possible start, misjudging his first flying lap in practice and crashing into the barriers as well.
Williams are racking up huge amounts of crash damage costs and Sargeant may be on the brink of losing his seat sooner rather than later at this stage.
He only earned a new contract for 2024 after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, but there are several drivers who will now believe they’re stronger candidates for that seat than the American.
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Logan Sargeant’s Formula 1 future could be under threat
Asked if Sargeant pushed too hard, too soon, Jacques said: “I don’t think consciously but this is the pinnacle of motor racing, the drivers spend a very long time in their lives working to get here and it feels like for Logan [Sargeant] that he’s constantly on the brink of having to prove himself and re-prove himself and re-prove himself.
“And he had that wonderful result at the end of last year in Las Vegas and if that race had turned out differently I think he could have easily been in the points and I think it would have been such a boost for him.
“But of course you’re going to have a reaction to being benched, apply to anything in life, no one wants to be taken out of the role that they’re there to do and have spent decades working towards.
“Of course, there’s going to be a reaction whether it’s conscious or not, it was a strange one to go off. They’re shredding parts at the moment.”
The driver being linked with Sargeant’s seat the most right now is Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian doesn’t turn 18 until August, but his home race in Monza would be his first opportunity to race in F1 and that may end up being a key date for Sargeant.
Reaching the end of the campaign has to be the goal for Sargeant, but earning a contract for 2025 seems like a pipe dream right now.
Closing the gap to Albon, keeping his car out of the barrier and adding to his solitary Formula 1 point appears to be the only way to save his seat.
The post ‘A strange one’: F1 pundit believes £15k-a-week driver is ‘constantly on the brink’ after tough start to 2024 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.