Opinion: Drama at Williams. Sargeant Out, Albon In - Unfair or Justifiable?

Ah, yes, there is no denying that Formula One and controversy go hand in hand. In fact, when was the last time a race weekend was controversy free? I dread to think. And, here we are, once again shrouded in controversy, with an issue I don’t think I’ve witnessed in my many, many years of watching the sport. Of course, I am referring to the shock decision by the Williams team to put driver Logan Sargeant on the sidelines for the Australian Grand Prix, after their other driver, Alex Albon, binned it during practice, wrecking the chassis in the process thus leaving Sargeant’s chassis as the sole one available for the team over course of this upcoming race weekend. And, with the Formula One community going wild on social media and the World Wide Web with comments surrounding “Chassis Gate,” it begs the question as to whether this swap was completely unfair or justifiably ok?

The initial response seems to be that this is an extremely harsh decision made by Williams team boss; James Vowles. I, myself, even branded it as a “disgrace” on Twitter (X). Why should Sargeant be punished for something he had no part of? Why should this have to be in, the American driver’s own words, “the hardest moment” of his career? It’s no secret that Sargeant’s performances have been, well, not the best; his sole point over the course of his F1 career to show for this. Regardless, this isn’t an excuse for Williams’ poor decision making, further damaging a driver’s dwindling confidence in the process.

“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.” - James Vowles, Williams Team Boss.

If anything, does this suggest that Williams have little trust in Sargeant and his performances? It would be easy to see why. But, for the sake of the driver’s mentality, this wasn’t the best way to out that fact.

Looking at the bigger picture, Williams’ controversial decision is, in some aspect, understandable. You see, when you’re a midfield/backend team, every little point means more money come the end of the season. In hindsight, Williams can’t really afford to miss out on any points that they can get their hands on. And, with Albon the stronger driver of the two, in terms of performance, the decision Vowles had to make can be, somewhat, justified.

“The midfield is so incredibly tight that a point or two or more may make the difference at the end of the season between being 10th or being 6th. (…) I have to prioritise the team above all else.” - James Vowles, Williams Team Boss

But, should this really have been a decision that needed to be made in the first place? Unfortunately for the team, a stretched Winter meant there was no time to prepare a spare chassis - something that teams always bring to races. Without it, team principals across the board may find themselves having to make similar decisions to the one made by James Vowles today. Regardless, it’s kind of difficult to believe a Formula One team would go to fly-away races without a spare shell. Is this reflective of just how bad financially F1 continues to be for smaller teams?

Either way, whether this decision was unfair or justifiable, it isn’t a good look for Formula One.   I get why it was made, I really do. But, do I agree with it? Not in the slightest. Would we see the likes of Red Bull or Ferrari opting for one driver over another in this way? I’m not convinced, unless it’s for the championship. And, they’re the type of teams you expect this behaviour from.

This decision could negatively impact Sargeant mentally, especially if perceived in the wrong context. It’s hard not feel sorry for the American driver. As for Albon, he HAS to perform well this weekend. Another crash or pointless finish could potentially make Williams the laughing stock of the grid. After all, as Vowles said, this decision could make all the difference at the end of the season.

Race Review: São Paulo Eprix 2024

Please, please tell me you watched that race? If you didn't, what are you waiting for?!?!

After a couple of, let's say "mediocre" Formula E races, the series returned, after a short break, with a bang. And, in usual FE fashion, no one could've predicted the nail-biting, yet fabulous, ending we were treated to. From start to finish, it was a task trying to keep up with who was where and what was what, and that just adds to all the fun.

Qualifying brought a glimmer of hope to DS Penske's 2024, after the first handful of races failed to shape up as to what they were expecting. Well, bar Jean-Eric Vergne's 2nd place finish in Diriyah, that is. The duo of Stoffel Vandoorne and Vergne found themselves starting 2nd and 3rd for the race. However, their fate was sealed (when I, a VER/VAN fan, who jinxes them, tuned in to watch) when a second Safety Car was thrown out, while both drivers were in attack mode. An unfortunate race for the American team saw Vergne finish in 7th and Vandoorne in 8th. Can DS Penske turn it around in time for Tokyo?

And, the DS Penske boys weren't the only ones having the "best" time. There was Max Günther and his crazy 40 place grid penalty followed by a 10 second stop/go. I don't think I've a seen a stop/go penalty for a while in motorsport, thank you FE for giving us a blast from the past. However, despite this, it was actually an impressive drive by Günther who managed to recover to 9th and into the points. Another driver having the time of his life was Nico Müller, who found himself involved in several on track tussles, eventually loosing his front wing and falling to the back of the pack. And, what about the likes of Nyck de Vries? His return to the series has been... well. I'm sure that once he finds his footing, we'll see reminiscences of the 2020-2021 Champion. We just need to remember, he's in a Mahindra.

This race has, so far, had the most Safety Cars in 2024. Two, to be exact. The first for the mountains of car parts littered across the track. How nobody retired during the first half of the race is incredible to me. And, second, for more debris, left behind by the bashed and bruised Jaguar of Nick Cassidy, who became a passenger when his front wing took a trip under his car. A heartbreaking moment for the Kiwi driver who, at the time, was involved in the battle for the lead/podium. A battle so heated, eventually it was going to end in tears, as well as the end of Cassidy's streak of wins/podiums.

Talking of the lead battle that involved, near enough, everyone; it was very evident that once again no one wanted to lead the race during the early stages. And, I can't decide if this is a good or bad thing for Formula E. It's good because it sets up some crazy battles, but bad because we're not necessarily getting that fight for the lead. It's more of a fight for second, or a fight for third. And, then I get lost as to who is where and confused as to how someone in 10th is suddenly leading. It's mad, but it's Formula E all over. And, this set up, plus three extra laps, gave us an ending that will go down in FE history.

The last few laps were all about Mitch Evans, Sam Bird, Jake Dennis and Pascal Wehrlein - Jaguar v McLaren v Andretti v Porsche. Some big names vying for the top spot. However, with Dennis and Wehrlein dropping back and soon out of the picture, it became the Evans v Bird show on the final corner, on the final lap, where Bird made a gutsy move for the lead, and made it stick, reaching the chequered flag less than half a second ahead of his ex-teammate. There is no better word to describe that last lap than"thriller." It was nail biting and exciting. Everything that motorsport should be. And, neither did it end there. Further back, while Dennis and Wehrlein were squabbling for the final podium spot, Oliver Rowland came out of nowhere, stealing it from the pair ahead. How? Where? God, I love Formula E.

This is one race that I could happily talk about for the rest of my days. And, it's surprising that so many people still disregard Formula E, declaring it nothing more than a "borefest." Well, my friends, just watch this race and your minds may just change.

Oh, and just so you are aware, Sergio Sette Camara found himself disqualified from this race for using more energy than allowed. Kind of heartbreaking at your home race, but rules are rules.

Next up is Tokyo on 30th March. See you then!

Let's Talk: Junior Drivers - Should There Be More Opportunities For Them In F1?

After Oliver Bearman's last minute call up to make his Formula One debut in Jeddah, stepping in for an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, the discussion surrounding the opportunities that are readily available in F1 for young drivers has fired up once again. And, there is no doubt that this is a stark reminder of how difficult it actually is for young drivers to make their way into Formula One. In short, motorsport, specifically F1, is "cut-throat," and many aspiring young drivers get their dreams snatched away from them before it's even begun, as they experience the harsh reality of becoming professional racing drivers. It is, what is called, a "doggy-dog world."

The biggest issue surrounding young drivers and their journey's into Formula One is that there just isn't enough seats on the grid for everyone. The amount of teams and drivers that are field in Formula One has considerably fluctuated over the years. For example, in 2011 there were 12 teams and 24 drivers. In 2024, it's now 10 teams and 20 drivers, thus no more room at the inn. But, should it be the incredibly talented juniors that take the brunt of missing out, over others, who say, have money? That's how things seem to transpire in this day and age of Formula One.

In hindsight, talent doesn't seem to be enough to guarantee a seat in the "pinnacle" of motorsport. Look at recent Formula 2 winners, Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire, both of whom have failed to secure a seat for 2023 and 2024 respectively. The introduction of junior teams/academies, some years ago, opened a whole new world for younger drivers, but, even the opportunities within seemed to have dwindled, with some teams opting for experience over fresh blood. But, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton still have what it takes and can teach younger drivers a thing or two. The main issues lay within the drivers who are not performing. It is, so to speak, a waste of a Formula One seat. Especially with the large pool of talent out in the wild. So, hypothetically speaking, what can be done to improve the issue? Bearman, as well as Liam Lawson, have both proved sometimes a chance on a rookie is worth taking.

What comes to mind immediately is that F1 needs more teams. More teams means more seats means more chances for the up and coming generations. However, F1 doesn't seem to want anymore teams, so that option is already out of the window, for now. So, if that is a no go, what about teams fielding a third car? With costs of running an F1 team as high as they are, some of the smaller teams may be vulnerable to folding if a third car was to come in to play. With the current state of things, it's difficult to find a solution to the infamous young driver problem.

But, F1 IS trying, in some way, shape and form, in making the series more accessible, with teams required to give a young rookie two free practice sessions per season. The perfect opportunity to maximise experience, as well as selling themselves to the world of Formula One. Despite this, in 2024, not one rookie, apart from Bearman's last minute call up; lines up on the start line for a Formula One race, which brings us full circle to there not being enough race seats once again.

It's a shame that over the years we've seen many a talent come to realise that their future does not lie in F1. But maybe, this is the mindset young drivers need to go forward with. Formula One, despite it's prestige, isn't everything, and plenty of opportunities lay elsewhere in the world of motorsport.

What do you think? Leave your opinions in the comments below!