Williams deliver brutal 'limit' verdict for Sargeant axe

Williams team principal James Vowles has stated it parted ways with Sargeant after realising he had reached his limit on what was achievable at the team.

Sargeant was dropped by Williams following last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, bringing an end to his F1 stint with the Grove-based squad.

The American driver largely struggled during his tenure at the squad, with his final F1 weekend at Zandvoort including a sizeable shunt during Friday practice.

Sargeant already faced questions over his future during his rookie season but was retained as Vowles saw the potential for an improved second term.

“The cleanest point to have done it would have been at the beginning of the year,” Vowles told media including RacingNews365. “Logan at the end of last year was starting to get within a tenth of Alex and starting to be close. 

"It was good to see his progression and if that progression continued we would have the driver I think in a very strong place this year. It didn't feel like the right point to cut ties and sever ties as a result of it. 

"So the reason now is straightforward, we've had enough experience under our belt to know that he's reached the limit of what he's able to achieve. 

“In fact, it's almost unfair on him furthermore to continue with him.”

Vowles saw 'difficult relationship' brewing

Sargeant was already heading for the exit doors at Williams as the team confirmed earlier this month it had signed Carlos Sainz to partner Alex Albon next year.

With a series of lacklustre results carrying him towards his final races at Williams, Vowles insisted it would have made for an uncomfortable end to the campaign for both parties if he was kept on-board.

"He absolutely never from a human perspective did anything but give me 100 per cent of what he was able to do,” he said.

"But the realisation of where he is on his limits now is very clear, it's clear to everyone.

“The relationship can only become more difficult across the last nine races because he knows what his future holds which is not to be in F1 anymore.

“A clean break at stage feels like a correct decision for all parties. It feels like it’s fair to Logan - he won’t feel that way today he reflects in the future that it was fair towards him in that regard.