The drivers in contention to replace Sargeant at Williams

Is the writing on the wall for Logan Sargeant? A series of disappointing performances and increased public pressure has painted the picture that his time at Williams is coming to an end.

Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes protégé who is being linked with a drive at the Brackley-based squad for 2025, is being viewed as a mid-season option for Williams.

However, the Italian is not eligible for a super licence until August, when he turns 18 - although a recent request to the FIA for an exemption has added a further complication to the situation.

But who else could Williams pursue if it decides to drop Sargeant and miss out on Antonelli?

Valtteri Bottas

A return to Williams would be poetic for Bottas. It was at the Grove-based squad where Bottas fashioned himself into a multiple-podium finisher with a reputation that attracted Mercedes when Nico Rosberg retired from the sport.

Having slipped back in the pecking order since his departing Mercedes at the end of 2021, Bottas has been keen to remind people of his F1 achievements.

With 10 grand prix wins and 67 podiums, Bottas boasts one of the more impressive resumés on the grid.

Additionally, his 10+ years of F1 experience would be a strong boost for Williams to go alongside Alex Albon.

With it seeming ever more likely that Bottas will not be part of Audi's F1 plans for the future, perhaps he can seek refuge through a familiar environment at Williams.

Pierre Gasly

The move out of the Red Bull umbrella has so far not worked out for Gasly.

Alpine has endured a disastrous start to the 2024 season, making its points breakthrough last time out at the Miami Grand Prix through Gasly's team-mate Esteban Ocon.

The French manufacturer has been unable to compete consistently for points, leaving it eighth in the constructors' championship.

It is a similarly bleak outlook for Gasly who's currently 19th in the drivers' standings, with a best result of 12th coming last time out in Miami.

Should Alpine's pace remain fail to improve throughout the campaign, it will become more difficult to convince their current drivers to stay - so might Gasly opt for a new project?

Esteban Ocon

While discussing one Alpine driver, why not discuss the other? 

Ocon has made Alpine his F1 home in recent years, having joined it in 2020 when it ran under the Renault guise.

With it, Ocon became a race winner when he prevailed at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix over Sebastian Vettel - but Alpine's current form is nowhere near offering a similar result.

Ocon's career is still being managed by Mercedes, but it is unlikely at this time that he will be pushed to the German manufacturer to replace Hamilton, with Sainz and Antonelli believed to be the two primary contenders.

But would Williams offer Ocon a place to start afresh after five years with the French squad?

Kevin Magnussen

Magnussen's chances of being retained by Haas for the 2024 season have been boosted by its loss of Nico Hulkenberg, who has been poached by Audi.

However, Magnussen's current penalty point tally stands at 10 - meaning they have to be ready to have someone step in for him sooner rather than later.

While Magnussen's penalty points have largely come while the Dane was playing a team game, could his “recklessness” force the 31-year-old out of the squad? 

Should such a scenario happen, might Williams eye Magnussen as the experienced but ruthless competitor it needs as it pushes to increase its point-scoring opportunities?

Zhou Guanyu

While Zhou offers the least experience on this list, the Chinese driver can be seen as a viable option for Williams.

Currently, in his third F1 season, Zhou has far from been embarrassed alongside Bottas and has managed, on several occasions, to better his more experienced team-mate.

The support Zhou has generated in his home country was visible during F1's first trip to Shanghai in five years last month.

Such marketability in a yet-to-peak environment such as China is a valuable asset to any team.

With Zhou also unlikely to feature in Audi's F1 future, it should be no surprise if the 24-year-old has been calling James Vowles over the prospect of a drive at the Grove-based squad.