Logan Sargeant says he has been driving well in F1 2024 and doesn’t need regular feedback or pat on the back as this sport is all about results.
Even though Sargeant has lost his Williams F1 seat to Carlos Sainz for 2025, the American believes that he has been driving well all year in 2024, especially from Melbourne onward. He has always been behind in terms of the updates from the team.
Only in Hungary, he got almost all the updates on the car as Albon and he was closer to the Thai in qualifying trim. The race pace – admittedly – could be improved upon, but that will come with time, once he has got the experience of the upgrades.
He has been under scrutiny for all of the season, but he has understood one thing that only the team knows what goes on within. That’s the biggest learning he’s had from outside F1 to now being part of the family for more than a year.
Amid notes about him not in speaking terms with James Vowles, which he clarified that is not the case, Sargeant noted that he doesn’t get feedback per se to do this or that. It is normal in debriefs and he doesn’t expects a pat on the back all the time.
But he clears that the support from Williams has been immense, whether it was during the feeder championship or in F1. He has also realised that it is results that matter eventually, the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ won’t be taken accord, no matter how much one knows.
Driving in 2024 –
Sargeant: “It is what it is. I feel like I’ve been driving well throughout the year. I’m biding my time to really get the opportunity. I think I’ve been driving well and I’m happy with what I’ve been doing. So I’ll just try and keep that up. I’ve been in the rhythm for a long time now – just didn’t have the chance to show it. I’m really happy with what I’ve been doing since Melbourne. I feel like I’ve been driving well, just not always given the opportunity to show it.
“And now that we have similar cars, it’s nice to have that chance every weekend. There was a couple of things in Hungary as well which were not quite optimised, so there was more in the package than what we ultimately got out of it, so yeah, I think it’s been looking pretty good over the past few races, and to be honest, like I’ve said many times, I feel like I’ve been driving to that quality since Melbourne, really. So yeah, just a continuation of what I’ve been doing. For sure, the majority of it.”
Feedback after races –
Sargeant: “No, not really. Yeah, no. I do my best to perform on a personal level. I want to come here and perform well for all the guys and girls who are working hard for me and trying to maximise our performance every single weekend. Ultimately, I know when I perform well. So, if I can do that and give back to them, then that’s what I’m trying to do. And in Formula 1, you’re expected to perform at a certain level. You don’t get a pat on the back every time you do a good job from within the team. No, nothing. Nothing majorly different.”
How F1 from outside than inside –
Sargeant: “I quickly realised that no one knows what truly goes on inside a team other than the people that are in it. So yeah. Life’s not always fair, but it is what it is. Nothing to be disappointed about. I get to drive an F1 car and not many people can say that.
Last year to this year situation –
Sargeant: “Last year compared to this year has been completely different. I think the big thing is last year [was] I couldn’t say I was doing a good job whereas this year I know I can say that and I can be happy with the job I’ve done, with a lot of the things I’ve done. Whether you and everyone else get to see that or not, unfortunately isn’t always in my control.”
Support from Williams, teams –
Sargeant: “I’ll say, I feel like coming through the junior formulas I always had great teams that really did support me 100%. So within those environments, I really did feel supported to have the best opportunity and best chance to perform. It was a massive privilege to be given the opportunity to race in Formula 2 to ultimately be put into Formula 1. It was a massive amount of support and trust from the start so of course I appreciate all of that massively and yeah, that doesn’t disappear.”
Results important –
Sargeant: “No matter what you’re expected to perform. I think where it starts to get hazy is performance doesn’t always matter, results do, and you have to have the same car in order to get the results. It’s as simple as that. So even if you’re performing well, unfortunately, it’s quite easy to be overlooked.”
Here’s James Vowles on Carlos Sainz hire
Here’s official announcement from Williams
Here’s Logan Sargeant on Marcus Ericsson
Here’s Carlos Sainz and others in Hungary
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