Logan Sargeant points finger at Valtteri Bottas for not avoiding his mistake

The only driver not confirmed for next season, Logan Sargeant had a nightmare Japanese Grand Prix weekend that did nothing to quash speculation about his future.

Crashing in qualifying at the Suzuka circuit, Sargeant caused significant damage to his FW45, so much so Williams had to make extensive repairs.

Using their spare survival cell, the FIA ruled that the changes made were “more than an assembly comprising a survival cell” and that the car built for him for the race had to be“considered as a third car”.

Another incident-filled weekend for Logan Sargeant

As such he not only lined up in the pit lane but he did so with a 10-second penalty hanging over his head.

With the Safety Car out on the opening lap for a collision that involved his team-mate Alex Albon, Williams took advantage to bring Sargeant in to serve his time penalty.

Back in the race, but running near the back, he tussled with Valtteri Bottas but in an ill-judged move that included a lock-up for the rookie, Sargeant hit Bottas.

He had to pit for a new front wing but such was the “progressive damage”, as Williams put it, he eventually retired the car.

“It was a hectic first few laps for sure,” Sargeant told F1.

“从我身边的事件,我触碰刹车s. I’m not sure he must not have seen that. I was never gonna make the corner. I was surprised he didn’t just cut underneath me but it was locked from the second I hit the brake.”

The incident-filled weekend heaped yet more pressure on Sargeant’s shoulders amid rumours Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich could be in line to replace him next season.

Asked about the scrutiny, Sargeant said: “I mean today there was not a lot I could really do. Two penalties, both cars have damage. Just move on.”

PlanetF1.com建议

The updated Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings after the Japanese GP

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Double DNF leaves Williams point-less in Japan

Alas for Williams the grand prix ended in a double DNF with Albon retiring shortly after Sargeant due to the damage his car suffered on the opening lap.

Albon was in the thick of the first lap kafuffle with Valtteri Bottas squeezed into him by Esteban Ocon and Zhou Guanyu’s car damaged by debris.

“No car is strong enough to survive that kind of crash,” rued Albon. “A lot of damage picked up from lap 1 and it was game over.

“We tried to carry on, push on, and see if the race would unfold. I mean, there were a lot of retirees so we tried to stay out and see what could happen but obviously, we were down on downforce.

“A bit of a shame. I think would have been interesting to see this race unfold.”

He reckons for the second race in succession he may have lost out on a possible points finish for Williams.

“When I see Checo DNFing, maybe a possible chance to try and stay in front of one of Alpines… so yeah I think maybe points are possible but you never know,” he said.

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