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The 2024 Formula 1 season hasn’t been all that compelling on track, with reigning champion Max Verstappen waltzing to two victories in the first two races.
But off the track, it’s been anything but dull.
That continued on Friday with the news that Williams is benching American driver Logan Sargeant despite his teammate, Alex Albon, crashing in the opening practice session.
Williams is unable to repair the damage done to Albon’s car in time for Sunday’s race, and did not have a backup chassis. But instead of Albon missing the race, the team has instead opted to give him Sargeant’s car and force the second-year driver to sit on the sidelines and watch.
🗣️ "It's one of the hardest decisions I've made so far."
Williams #F1 boss James Vowles explains why he took the difficult choice to bench Logan Sargeant for Alex Albon this weekend ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/DC3LnOyW9g
— The Race (@wearetherace) March 22, 2024
Williams Team Principal Explains Controversial Australian GP Decision
“We are hugely disappointed that the damage sustained to the chassis has meant we need to withdraw it from the weekend,” Williams Team Principal James Vowles said of the decision. “It’s unacceptable in modern day Formula 1 not to have a spare chassis, but it is a reflection of how behind we were in the winter period and an illustration of why we need to go through significant change in order to get ourselves in a better position for the future. As a result, we have had some very difficult decisions to make this afternoon.
“While Logan should not have to suffer from a mistake that he did not make, every race counts when the midfield is tighter than ever, so we have made the call based on our best potential to score points this weekend.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we cannot thank Logan enough for his graceful acceptance, demonstrating his dedication to the team; he is a true team player. This will prove a tough weekend for Williams, and this situation is not one that we will put ourselves in again.”
Albon earned top billing at the team with a 13th-place finish in the points in 2023. He scored 27 points over the course of the season, compared to just 1 for Sargeant.
But it’s still a tough look.