Logan Sargeant was unable to participate in the race in Melbourne due to his more experienced teammate, Alex Albon, damaging his car during practice. As a result, Albon, considered the team’s top driver, received Sargeant’s car as there was no third chassis available.
According to the team director, James Vowles, as stated in a meeting on the Williams Formula One website, both drivers will be racing in Suzuka. Vowles, speaking from the Williams factory in Grove, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to repair Albon’s damaged chassis. The chassis was transported back to the factory on Monday morning and immediately underwent repairs.
Vowles explained that originally the team planned to have three chassis for the start of the season, but due to delays, they only had two. Work on the second chassis is also facing some delays, but Vowles assured that a third chassis will be available soon.
Building a chassis is an extensive process that requires thousands of hours of work in the composite department. It is one of the most significant tasks within a Formula 1 team. Despite Albon’s strong performance in Melbourne, where he scored 27 of the team’s 28 points, Williams has not yet scored points in the three races of this season. Vowles predicted that the bottom five teams would be in a tight battle throughout the season, with the top five teams dominating the points standings.
Vowles admitted that prioritizing Albon over Sargeant in Melbourne was a tough decision, but one based on performance. He acknowledged that the team is aware of their current position and the amount of work needed to improve.
However, there is a higher than normal chance that one or both of the Williams cars will not qualify for the Sunday race in Suzuka. The demanding nature of the old track increases the risk of incidents, and the Williams drivers have not inspired much confidence in their abilities at this challenging location. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
