Williams withdraws Sargeant from Australian GP as Albon gets his F1 car

Albon suffered an enormous accident throughout Friday morning’s first free follow session, which prompted a chassis change for the Anglo-Thai driver.

As a result of Williams did not have a spare chassis at its disposal, the Grove staff has determined to let Albon use team-mate Sargeant’s automobile, which means the American will sit out the remainder of the Melbourne weekend.

“Whereas Logan shouldn’t need to endure from a mistake that he didn’t make, each race counts when the midfield is tighter than ever, so we’ve made the decision based mostly on our greatest potential to attain factors this weekend,” staff boss James Vowles mentioned.

“This resolution was not made evenly, and we can not thank Logan sufficient for his sleek acceptance, demonstrating his dedication to the staff; he’s a real staff participant. It will show a tricky weekend for Williams, and this case isn’t one that we are going to put ourselves in once more.”

Alex Albon, Williams FW46

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

“I’ve to be completely sincere and say that no driver would wish to quit his seat,” mentioned Albon, who was chargeable for 27 of Williams’ 28 factors scored throughout the 2023 season. 

“Logan has all the time been a consummate skilled and a staff participant from day one, and this would possibly not be a simple one for him to take.

“At this level although, I can not dwell on the scenario and my solely job now could be to maximise our potential this weekend and work with the entire staff to verify we do the most effective job doable.”

Sargeant mentioned it was the “hardest second” of his profession to overlook out on the remainder of the Australian Grand Prix.

“That is the toughest second I can bear in mind in my profession and it is completely not straightforward,” he commented.

“I’m nonetheless fully right here for the staff and can proceed to contribute in any approach that I can this weekend to maximise what we are able to do.”

In line with Vowles, Williams not having a 3rd chassis in Melbourne was an indication of the delays it confronted this winter to get the FW46 prepared in time.

“It is unacceptable in modern-day Method 1 to not have a spare chassis, however it’s a reflection of how behind we had been within the winter interval and an illustration of why we have to undergo vital change with a view to get ourselves in a greater place for the long run,” Vowles added.

Speaking to Motorsport.com before the decision was made, Vowles defined that not taking a 3rd chassis was one of many dangers the staff had taken to push its growth to the restrict.

Commenting on the crash itself, Albon mentioned he was stunned by how the automobile snapped after bouncing over the Flip 6 exit kerbs.

“Simply exploring slightly bit, went a bit large, had a little bit of an aggressive sort of kerb strike, and it lifted up the entrance,”  he defined.

“I truthfully did not suppose something of it on the time, I assumed: ‘Okay, it is wonderful. I am going to clearly simply again out and let the automobile land.’

“However after I did land I bottomed out fairly badly and it simply sort of slapped me.”