F1 Rumor: Logan Sargeant Out After Miami, James Vowles Backs Kimi Antonelli to Join Williams at Imola

Logan Sargeant’s time in F1 is nearly up. After a disappointing rookie season and next-to-no progress in 2024, Williams is reportedly looking to axe the American driver after his home race in Miami. A cruel fate, indeed! Team Principal James Vowles is said to be interested in signing 17-year-old racing prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Imola onwards.

The domino effect from Lewis Hamilton‘s Mercedes exit is engulfing Logan Sargeant’s F1 career. Toto Wolff has his eyes set on Antonelli to replace the departing 7-time champion. But because the F2 driver is too inexperienced to fill Hamilton’s shoes, the Silver Arrows want to make space at Williams, their ‘feeder team’. This will help Antonelli get accustomed to F1’s speed and set a solid foundation for a Mercedes promotion.

At Williams, while Alex Albon outperforms the capabilities of their car, Sargeant’s progress remains stagnant. Moreover, the American has stacked up millions in crash damages since his arrival. Hence, as per @tristanontrack, an IT Engineer for Mercedes, the Miami GP could be Sargeant’s last race. Williams has even requested a dispensation from the FIA to allow Antonelli to drive before he turns 18.

If true, Sargeant will have a bitter time letting this sink in. Bidding farewell to F1 after one’s home race might be the ideal way to go for most drivers, but not if they are getting axed. The Floridian driver, however, might get a few more races to compete in, says FIA press conference host Tom Clarkson.

FIA will reject Williams’ request for Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s dispensation, says Tom Clarkson

Max Verstappen was the last F1 driver to debut in F1 at the age of 17. Soon after, the FIA introduced a new requirement for drivers to be 18 to compete in F1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will only turn 18 on August 25 this year. Hence, Williams needed to ask for a dispensation from the FIA to exempt the 17-year-old from this requirement. However, as per Tom Clarkson, the FIA won’t change the rules for him.

“The talk in China last weekend is that Antonelli will be in the second Williams, alongside Alex Albon, from the summer break onwards,” Clarkson said on the F1 Nation podcast. “He turns 18 at the end of August. Williams are asking the FIA for special dispensation. Max Verstappen raced in Formula 1, aged 17. Why can’t Antonelli? But I think the rules are now set and there won’t be a dispensation.”