An FP1 crash for Alex Albon damaged his chassis beyond immediate repair. With Williams not having built up a spare tub, the team has opted to sacrifice Sargeant to enter Albon.
Team principal James Vowles concedes the decision to bench the American is “one of the hardest” he has had to make in the job but acknowledges that the tight competitive order has steered Williams to ‘put its money’ on the driver who is more likely to score points.
Vowles admits that rebuilding Sargeant’s confidence will prove “very difficult” but insists the team still backs him to deliver following the late decision to re-hire him for 2024.
“No, I don't think that's the case,” replied Vowles when asked by Autosport whether the move was evidence of Williams not having faith in Sargeant.
“The fact that I re-signed him shows you I have faith in him. This year, I think you've seen he's been closer to Alex than before.
“However, I have one car and just one car. There are five very fast teams taking up those top 10 positions. There's no points apart from if you're in the top 10.
“There's one point separating the bottom five teams, at the moment. So, every point will make a difference between now and the end of the year.
“In that regard, you therefore put your money on the driver that so far, this year, has been slightly ahead of the other one, which is Alex.
“So, I reset everything, [have] taken a view from Bahrain, taken the view from Saudi and taken the view from here, which of the two drivers is most likely to score a point."
Source: Autosport