Sargeant hits back at ex-F1 driver for spreading false Williams rumour

Logan Sargeant has hit out at former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson for spreading claims that the Williams racer was not on speaking terms with boss James Vowles. 

Sargeant's long-term future at Williams is unclear with Vowles exploring other options to partner Alex Albon, including Carlos Sainz, who is currently evaluating multiple offers. 

After the Hungarian GP in which Sargeant finished 17th, 2022 Indy 500 winner Ericsson claimed on a podcast: "I was told by some American friends who know Sargeant [that] he doesn’t have fun in that team. 

"He thinks it’s really hard and apparently he and Vowles don’t even talk with each other anymore, they barely greet each other. It’s completely cut off between them."

Addressing the claims ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, Sargeant emphatically denied them.

"Marcus Ericsson has a reputation of talking about other people without ever having had a conversation with me in his life," Sargeant told media including RacingNews365. 

"It doesn't carry any weight, it is not true and I had a conversation with James [a short time ago]. 

"Most importantly, James and I both come here and we want to do the best for the team, we both work in the right direction for what is best for the team. 

"Ultimately, what is best for the team, is best for me. It is just completely untrue. "I've never spoken to him in my life, and I don't plan on it either.

"Of course, it can look like our relationship is worse than it is from the outside, but we will go to work as usual and keep trying to perform. 

"We had a group conversation, but I will speak to him separately. I haven't had the chance to do so yet."

'Not an easy season'

The American driver has come under criticism by other pundits and ex-drivers for his performances this season, but is continuing to block the noise out, and has accepted the situation.

"It hasn't been a particularly easy season with the amount of things that have happened to me, and from a team perspective, we've struggled in some areas," he said.

"It has been this way for a long time now, but it just is what it is. 

"The most important thing is that we're all working towards the same goal, that will never change and we want what is best for the whole team."