Logan Sargeant is out at Williams.*
*For the primary observe session at this weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix on the historic Silverstone circuit.
The group introduced on Monday that Franco Colapinto, who drives for MP Motorsport within the F2 feeder program and is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, shall be within the cockpit of Sargeant’s FW46 for the primary observe session this weekend.
Colapinto has gotten off to a robust begin this season in F2, the place he sits fifth within the F2 Championship standings. The 21-year-old Argentinian driver notched his first win of the 2024 season with a victory within the F2 Sprint Race in Imola and has a pair of Feature Race P2s on the 12 months, the primary coming in Spain and the latest coming this previous weekend on the Austrian Grand Prix.
“I’ve so many feelings. I’m extraordinarily delighted and it’s an important second in my life and my profession. I would be the most ready I can; I shall be doing a whole lot of laps within the simulator and learning the small print wanted to drive this 12 months’s automobile,” mentioned the motive force within the group’s announcement. “I’m actually trying ahead to experiencing the brand new automobile after driving final 12 months’s in Abu Dhabi. To be capable to drive it at a monitor like Silverstone is a privilege, it’s one in every of my [favorite] tracks and to drive it on the group’s residence race means rather a lot.
“To all of the Argentine followers – I hope you get pleasure from FP1 as a lot as I’m going to! It’s an necessary second for our nation and I’m so grateful for all of the assist I’ve been given. I’m going to present my all to make you proud!”
This would be the younger driver’s first time in an F1 session, and his second time within the cockpit of an F1 automobile. He participated in post-season testing at Abu Dhabi following final season.
Sven Smeets, the group’s Sporting Director, praised Colapinto’s “encouraging” begin to the F2 marketing campaign.
“Franco has had a really encouraging begin to his debut season in F2 and we’re delighted to reward his performances over the previous two years along with his first FP1 session,” mentioned Smeets. “We are happy with our gifted group of drivers within the Williams Racing Driver Academy and it’s important for us to present them the chance to progress and have these necessary probabilities as they transfer up the ladder. To showcase our expertise at our residence race at Silverstone is a pleasant second and, after all, that is going to be an awesome day for the Argentine F1 followers.”
The announcement comes as rumors persist concerning Williams’ second seat for the 2025 F1 marketing campaign. The group beforehand introduced a brand new “multi-year” take care of Alexander Albon that can hold the motive force in his present seat by no less than the 2027 season.
As for the seat presently occupied by Sargeant, Carlos Sainz Jr. stays the motive force on everybody’s lips for that spot, together with Williams Team Principal James Vowles. Williams is considered because the seemingly vacation spot for Sainz’s providers subsequent season, though current days have seen Alpine emerge as a extra severe contender.
