Logan Sargeant: Can Williams afford to keep him?

The 'driver silly season' for the 2023 Formula 1 season was barely a season at all, let alone be silly. But you can't call us silly for calling out Logan Sargeant's lack of performances this season. 

Are we sharing an opinion on Sargeant's season, yes? Are we backing it up with data, absolutely, yes. But why would Williams be backing their driver who isn't performing? Their car is progressing up to the midfield and so should both their drivers, isn't it? 

How has Logan Sargeant performed against George Russell in his first year at Williams? And what about Nicholas Latifi? We all know his stats aren't impressive against the mighty Alexander Albon. 

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah discuss Logan Sargeant's performances in 2023 or lack thereof, what Williams' future should be in 2024 and more.

Tune in!

(Season 2023, Episode 52)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Williams Racing

## Inside Line F1 Podcast: Episode 52 - Logan Sargeant's Lackluster Performance and Williams' Future

### Introduction:

* The 2023 Formula 1 season has had a lackluster driver market, with few surprises or dramatic moves.
* One remaining question is whether Logan Sargeant will retain his seat at Williams for 2024.
* The podcast hosts, Soumil Arora, Kunal Shah, and Sundaram, unanimously believe that Sargeant should not be retained.

### Sargeant's Performance Analysis:

* Sargeant has not performed well against his teammate, Alex Albon, in his first year at Williams.
* He has never out-qualified Albon and has not scored a single point this season.
* His average qualifying gap to Albon is half a second, even when excluding unfamiliar circuits.
* Sargeant has had four crashes in the last four races after the summer break.

### Williams' Future and Intent:

* Williams is progressing as a team and has made significant strides in recent months.
* Their goal is to become an upper-midfield team, and retaining Sargeant would contradict this ambition.
* Williams' actions and statements suggest a focus on becoming a stronger team, and Sargeant's continued presence would undermine this intent.

### Spark and Potential Alternatives:

* Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson have shown great promise as rookies this season, demonstrating the importance of spark and potential in young drivers.
* Sargeant lacks the same level of spark and potential, making it difficult to justify his retention.
* Mick Schumacher and Liam Lawson are mentioned as potential alternatives for the Williams seat.

### Commercial Considerations:

* Some teams may retain drivers despite poor performance due to commercial reasons or contractual obligations.
* Williams may be tempted to keep Sargeant for financial reasons, as he brings in sponsorship money.
* However, the team's long-term goal should be to prioritize performance and competitiveness.

### Conclusion:

* The podcast hosts strongly believe that Williams should not retain Logan Sargeant for the 2024 season.
* His performance has been subpar, and he does not align with the team's stated goals of becoming an upper-midfield contender.
* Williams should consider drivers like Mick Schumacher or Liam Lawson, who have shown more promise and potential.