Alex Albon wary: ‘I know Logan Sargeant will be very fast’ in 2023

Henry Valantine
Williams pair Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. Austin October 2022.

Williams driver Alex Albon with reserve driver and future team-mate Logan Sargeant. Austin October 2022.

Alex Albon has said he is happy to pass on his knowledge to Logan Sargeant ahead of the 2023 season, but knows he will have a “very fast” new team-mate alongside him at Williams next year.

Should he gain the required Super Licence points come the end of the Formula 2 season in Abu Dhabi, with a top-six finish in the championship his target, Williams confirmed their academy driver would replace Nicholas Latifi to partner Albon at the team next season.

The American took part in free practice for the first time at a home race at Austin in October, and did so again in Mexico City a week later as he gets geared up to hopefully become the first full-time American Formula 1 driver since Alexander Rossi.

Albon revealed that Sargeant, who currently sits third in the Formula 2 standings with two feature race victories to his name so far this season, has been involved in the team’s behind-the-scenes meetings as he gets ready to make the transition into a full-time drive.

He said he aims to help the rookie through where he can, but knows he will have a quick driver up against him in the Williams garage next season.

“He basically sits in on every meeting now and can listen to how we communicate,” Albon said of his next team-mate, quoted by the German edition of Motorsport.com.

“The most important thing for us is: we have to take the team forward now. That’s our main goal for 2023, but of course, Logan is a rookie.

“I will be open to him because the bottom line is that we have to pull together and we want to move more towards the midfield.

“That’s why I’m passing on my knowledge to him, but I don’t have to take him by the hand.

“First we need to know where he stands with his experience and knowledge. So it’s good that he’s doing some Friday practice now. That will speed up his development.

“Then we have the whole winter to process this information. But I already know: he will be very fast, he’s eager to learn, asking questions all the time.”

Albon has scored four points so far this season for Williams, with the FW44 having struggled for most of the year to break into the top 10 – Williams looking set to finish bottom of the Constructors’ Championship this year.

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