Despite plenty of speculation to the contrary after a rocky rookie season, Logan Sargeant is returning to Formula 1 with Williams Racing for 2024. The 22-year-old American driver confirmed his return to F1 with Williams on X in a fun way.
Zoom in bottom left ??? pic.twitter.com/6Oysue8oih
— Logan Sargeant (@LoganSargeant) December 1, 2023
Sargeant earned a single point in the 2023 F1 championship with a 10th place at the U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, making him the first American driver to earn a point in the series since Michael Andretti raced for McLaren in 1993. But that single point — which was clearly the highlight of an otherwise forgettable season — came after Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeClerc were disqualified after the race.
Six times in 2023, Sargeant finished last or did not finish at all. And he was consistently outpaced by his much-more-experienced teammate, Alex Albon, who racked up 27 points in the season — causing many to suspect that Sargeant would not return to the seat in 2024. On Dec. 1, however, both Sargeant and Williams Racing team principal James Vowles laid all the speculation to rest.
"I am pleased to continue our journey with Logan into the 2024 season," Vowles said announcing the decision to move forward with Sargeant. "Logan has demonstrated immense skill whilst under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team. We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season."
Indeed, with 28 points between Albon and Sargeant, Williams Racing finished a surprising seventh in the Constructors' Championship, the team's best performance since it finished fifth in 2017. In two of the last three seasons, Williams finished dead last in the Constructors' Championship and even failed to score a single point in the 2020 season.
With Sargeant confirmed to return to Williams in 2024, next season's F1 grid will be identical to that which finished this season. Depending on chassis and engine development over the offseason, fortunes of the team — based in Woking, England — are looking up, and Sargeant is looking forward to a stronger second year in F1.
"I am thrilled to be continuing with Williams Racing for the 2024 season," Logan said, acording to Racer.com. "It has been an incredible journey with the team so far, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a driver within such a talented and dedicated group.
"We have exciting plans for the future, and I can't wait to contribute to the team's success in the coming year."
The 2024 F1 season kicks off on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix. Given a second season with Williams, it will be interesting to see if Sargeant can perform more consistently throughout the year and help his team climb even higher in next year's championship.
More: Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix Panned by Drivers and Fans
