With the team’s spare chassis yet to be constructed, Alex Albon’s mishap during FP1 at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit in the previous race compelled Williams to operate with just one car from Saturday onward. The damaged FW46 was promptly transported back to the UK for thorough assessment and necessary repairs.
In a strategic move aimed at maximizing their performance in the fiercely contested midfield, Williams opted to withdraw Logan Sargeant from the event, making room for Albon to take over the American driver’s car.
Although the damaged monocoque has been successfully repaired ahead of this weekend’s Suzuka event, Williams anticipates not having a spare tub available until the early May race in Miami.
Given the tight timeframe and logistical challenges involved in swapping chassis, Sargeant will continue to drive the car previously used by Albon for the upcoming race weekend.
Confirming the arrangement, Sargeant stated, “It’s the repaired one. Just because the workload to switch the cars back over would just be far too much for the mechanics. But the chassis repair went better than expected.” The repair work added a mere 100 grams to the car’s weight.
Team principal James Vowles clarified that the damage to the chassis was limited to a suspension insert, with no structural cracks in the tub. Therefore, drivers are unlikely to perceive any discernible difference between the two cars.
Reflecting on Albon’s incident in Melbourne, Sargeant acknowledged his initial concern regarding the team’s spare parts inventory. “I don’t think we really, at least I, hadn’t thought about it before that. If I’m honest, when I see Alex crash, the first thing that goes through my head is, ‘I know that we’re down on spares’,” he admitted.
Discussing the team’s response to such challenges, Sargeant highlighted their ongoing efforts to enhance preparedness and resource management early in the season.
Despite the absence of a standby car, Sargeant emphasized that his approach to driving remains unchanged. “We went to Saudi with the same situation. And of course, it’s one of those things that you have to be careful. But at the same time, you can’t be. It’s Formula 1,” he explained. “If you’re careful, you’re nowhere. So, it’s really not even a question – you have to be committed, confident and hope nothing goes wrong.”
Sargeant acknowledged the rationale behind the decision to bench him in favor of Albon for the Australian race, affirming his understanding of the team’s strategic considerations.
