James Vowles, the Mercedes strategist, doesn’t rule out the possibility of the team’s young talent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, making an early debut at Williams. The 17-year-old Italian has been showing promising performance in his rookie season in Formula 2 and is frequently mentioned as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton. Williams has previously served as a stepping stone for Mercedes driver George Russell. Could Antonelli replace Logan Sargeant after the summer?
James Vowles was asked about his expectations for the second half of the season ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. We now know that Logan Sargeant will have to make way next year – Carlos Sainz will join the British racing team from 2025. With Antonelli in the Mercedes ranks, there is plenty of other talent that could support Williams in the short term. Is there a chance that Sargeant might have to pack his bags after the summer?
Logan Sargeant’s Position in the Team
“Sargeant must earn his place in this team, as does everyone else,” explained Vowles. “I absolutely do not want to say that he has a fixed spot at Williams. He really has to earn it, just like (Alex Albon) and just like me.” The American has not scored any points this year and has mainly caused sky-high bills at Williams. The question is whether Formula 2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli can perform better.
Reconsidering Options
“It’s not as if Toto (Wolff) is forcing him on us,” Vowles said about Antonelli. “To be honest, I’d rather give Logan (Sargeant) the chance to be successful. But I can’t say he can stay. If we make the car faster, and we will make it faster, then I have the responsibility to ensure that we finish as high as possible in the championship. If Sargeant can deliver at that time, that’s great. If he can’t, then I have to reconsider my options.”
Vowles does dare to admit that Antonelli is an ‘impressive’ talent. The PREMA driver has already won a race in the junior class and threw high eyes again during the Formula 2 race at Spa. “What he did was damn impressive,” said Vowles. “He managed to overtake Colapinto – our own driver – on the inside. That’s not only brave in the rain, it requires a lot of skill.”
