Logan Sargeant has declared he is "satisfied" with his driving performance this season, despite indications that Williams is actively seeking his replacement for 2025.
Williams' team boss James Vowles has shown a strong preference for Alex Albon's future teammate to be Carlos Sainz, who remains on the market after being dropped by Ferrari for the future. However, Sainz's hesitation on several decision deadlines might have impacted his ongoing chances.
Currently, Vowles seems to be choosing between Esteban Ocon, with his management links to Mercedes, and Valtteri Bottas. Ocon, though, appears to be nearing an agreement with Haas.
"Esteban is very, very fast," Vowles remarked to Canal Plus, adding, "but fast at a level that, when he competed against (Fernando) Alonso, they were basically equal in qualifying."
"It's true that he's usually in a close fight with his teammate and there are some collisions, there's no doubt about that," Vowles continued. "But he's also very, very fast and that's the hardest part when you're a racing driver."
Regarding Bottas, a former Williams and Mercedes competitor now unlikely to be retained by Sauber for the new Audi era, Vowles described him as a "very fast driver" capable of occasionally "beating Lewis Hamilton in qualifying."
"And Valtteri hasn't lost the speed he used to have, he's the same as before," Vowles, who has a long-standing professional relationship with Bottas, aged 34, from their time at Mercedes, noted.
"He's now driving for the team that has the slowest car, but despite that he still manages to beat some of the other teams sometimes. I also like that he is sincere and straightforward."
Bottas was spotted in another private meeting with Vowles during the recent British GP.
"He is definitely an option for us," Vowles confirmed, "but he's not the only one."
This ongoing speculation spells uncertainty for Williams' current driver, 23-year-old Sargeant, who might have to consider moving to the Indycar series in the US.
"I've been hearing all these rumours for a long time," Sargeant told France's Auto Hebdo. "At the end of the day, I show up every time and I do my best."
"I'm also here for me. I want to prove to myself that I can continue to improve, to show that I'm capable of doing it. I know the reality and I know that I did a good job this season with what I had," he elaborated. "And that's what matters most to me."
Williams has not disputed that a long-standing difference in car specifications between Sargeant and Albon in 2024 has contributed to their performance disparity.
"It's difficult to have a clear idea of how everything has gone," Sargeant admitted. "What I do know is that I am satisfied with the way I am driving. I couldn't say that last year, but I can say it this year."
"And I'll keep fighting whatever the situation is. I will fight until the end." body check tags ::
