Williams Academy driver and Formula 2 star Logan Sargeant is all but set to race for the Grove-based team in 2023, with the American currently occupying third in the F2 standings.
With just Abu Dhabi remaining, Sergeant is in a great position to achieve an F1 super licence, something he can achieve at the end of 2022 if he finishes in the top seven in the junior series.
It was initially a top six that the young driver needed; however, Williams gave Sargeant an FP1 appearance last weekend at the United States Grand Prix, as well as this weekend in Mexico and at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Due to the running he’ll be doing in the FW44, he now just needs to finish in the top seven.
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“We want him to spend as much time in the car as possible, which is why we gave him these three practice sessions,” said team boss Jost Capito.
“That also gives him extra super license points, which never hurts.”
Sargeant will need a complete disaster to take place to miss out on finishing in the top seven, considering that he’s currently 12 points ahead of seventh-placed Liam Lawson.
Should he fail, though, then Williams will need to find someone else to partner Alex Albon in 2023.
Mick Schumacher is likely the number one candidate should Sargeant endure a nightmare F2 season finale; however, that depends on if Haas retain him or not.
It’s currently looking like Nico Hulkenberg might have the edge over the 23-year-old for the 2023 Haas seat, but the side are in no rush to make a decision.
Nevertheless, Capito has a plan should Sargeant fail in Abu Dhabi and is adamant that the team “will be fine”.
“There will be other drivers who don’t get a contract,” he said.
“There are very good drivers who have a super license, so that will be fine.”
Some have questioned if outgoing Williams driver Nicholas Latifi could yet be retained by the team; however, this doesn’t look likely at all.
Latifi denied rumours at the Circuit of the Americas last week that he had been in discussions with Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar, something he hailed as “just rumours”.
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“Like I said in Austin last week, it’s all just rumours,” said Latifi.
“I’ve been exploring options and Indycar is a series I’m considering, but I’ve not decided on anything yet.
“At the at the same time, if there’s not an option on the table that I feel is the right one for next year then I’m not necessarily ruling out taking a year to put something better together for the following one.”