The journey to Formula 1 is becoming increasingly difficult for young drivers with the competition for a spot on the grid incredibly competitive.
After years of very little movement in the driver’s market, the 2025 F1 grid will feature four rookies and two very inexperienced drivers; Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman.
This means that several drivers who were established in the paddock at the beginning of last season have been forced to move on.
Valtteri Bottas has joined Mercedes as a reserve driver, while Kevin Magnussen has signed for BMW to race in the World Endurance Championship and IMSA.
Zhou Guanyu wants to remain in F1 in a similar role to Bottas, while Franco Colapinto will be lingering in the paddock as Williams’ reserve driver ready to take over if any of the sport’s newest drivers aren’t up to scratch.
One driver whose time in Formula 1 is likely over for good is Logan Sargeant.
Sergeant was given a contract extension by Williams after the 2023 season concluded after managing to score a single point during his debut campaign.
Speaking to Formule1.nl, pundit and racing driver Tom Coronel believes that Sargeant simply wasn’t fast enough to race in F1.
However, he thinks he could have a successful career away from the sport.
Logan Sargeant ‘not even close’ to being fast enough for Formula 1
Writing about the young American’s season before being dropped for Colapinto, Coronel said: “We saw Logan Sargeant’s departure coming for miles, of course.
“Williams are a team that wants to grow. Well, so then you need drivers to lift your team up. Because the chain always breaks at the weakest link.
“And at Williams that was Logan Sargeant, that was blindingly obvious. And so if you have ambitions as a team, you just have to say goodbye.
“Sargeant’s successor, Franco Colapinto, has done better, absolutely.
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“Did more damage, but also scored more points. Colapinto has done a lot wrong, but that’s a guy with growth potential.
“That was not the case for Sargeant. He lacked confidence and could not handle the criticism of his performance.
“He just wasn’t strong enough and made mistakes you shouldn’t make.
“I do think he is a guy who can still be of value in other racing series, for example in the WEC. Because he is not super slow, but just not fast enough for Formula 1.
“Not even by a long shot. Formula 1 is the highest of the highest, let’s not forget that. In itself, there is no shame if you fall short of that.”
Williams are the biggest winners in Formula 1’s driver market ahead of the 2025 season
Only two teams – Aston Martin and McLaren – didn’t change either of their drivers for next season.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari set off a chain reaction few anticipated 12 months ago, but Carlos Sainz was the biggest loser as he was the driver Frederic Vasseur decided to drop for the seven-time world champion.
Sainz had offers from half the grid, but none of the fastest teams could find space for him in their roster.
READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties
Williams were the beneficiaries of the lack of interest in Sainz, securing the Spaniard’s services for 2025 and beyond.
Interest in Alex Albon waned as the year went on, leaving team principal James Vowles with arguably the strongest pairing in F1’s midfield for next year.
That won’t mean anything if the car isn’t suitably developed during the winter, with even bottom team Sauber nearly on a par with the Grove-based team by the time the campaign ended in Abu Dhabi.
