Sargent out, Colapinto in at Williams

[Jericoke]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-f2-racer-colapinto-replaces-sargeant-at-williams-for-rest-of-2024.2CghqWgB0vxJoZK8wWoMPj

Sargent has been on borrowed time all season, and I guess it was finally time to end his F1 experiment.  I appreciate that Williams gave him a chance to succeed.  I'm sure he'll find success in another series.

It seems there are few possibilities overlooked for the seat, I'm a little curious why someone who hasn't raced a modern F1 car wasn't picked for a short term replacement.  At the same time, he's a Williams Academy driver.  Why bother having an academy if you're not going to use it?

I think that Alpine has improved enough that it's a tall order for Williams to overtake them.  I suspect this is more about keeping Sauber in last in case they have a lucky haul of points.  Otherwise, I'm not sure why this risk is taken.  Certainly unless Colapinto absolutely embarrasses Albon he's not getting a 2025 seat out of this. 

[John S]

Maybe we'll find out post season that Logan's money has run out, this last repair bill may have wiped out his backers, some deals for seats include payments to repair damage from shunts.

The Media has been suggesting that Red Bull were willing to lend Lawson and Wolff was putting forward Mick Schumacher. However both of these options will have probably required Williams to pay them, where as using Colapinto may bring extra revenue - or at least damage guarantee money to the team. 

After all, even with budget cap, F1 is still a game of monetary haves & have nots in grid pecking order. 

 

[lkjohnson1950]

When I started watching F!, drivers were hired for their talent. If a rich kid wanted to race, someone just sold him a car.

[Dare]

When I started watching F!, drivers were hired for their talent. If a rich kid wanted to race, someone just sold him a car.

 


I wonder who the last drivers that weren't from wealthy families were? Lewis and maybe Fisichella

[John S]

When I started watching F!, drivers were hired for their talent. If a rich kid wanted to race, someone just sold him a car.

 


I wonder who the last drivers that weren't from wealthy families were? Lewis and maybe Fisichella

You can add Johnny Herbert, Fernando Alonso & Pastor Maldonado to that list.

Johnny's dad was a mechanic & helped him through his karting career from age 10 in a similar way to Lewis, but without the backing of McLaren & Merc.

Fernando is from a working class family in Oveido, Northwest Spain & was lucky enough to be put in a Kart at a very early age and was just outstanding. the rest is as they say history. 

Pastor first got interested in racing watching his uncles racing in YMCA Karts, he then made his mark in BMX racing then taking on Karting.  Most of his overseas racing activities were poorly funded and he had part campaigns in many series & racked up some good results from the machinery he found to drive.
He was catapulted into Williams F1 team, after testing for several back marker teams, courtesy Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez who decided to support a few Native racing drivers on the world stage (Johnny Cecotto Jr being another) through PDVSA the state oil company.   

[cosworth151]

When I started watching F!, drivers were hired for their talent. If a rich kid wanted to race, someone just sold him a car.

Sadly, only the chosen few can run in F1 now. Just ask the Andretti family. The days when Sterling Moss (with family help) could buy a Maserati 250F, show up and qualify for races is long gone.

[John S]

Seems cash is involved with Colapinto's drive at Williams.

https://www.grandprix.com/news/colapinto-paying-4-5m-to-take-sargeants-seat.html