Today’s events involving Logan Sargeant have sparked rumors of a potential early replacement before the season ends. The Williams driver had a severe crash during the third free practice session on Saturday, putting his team in a difficult position and raising questions about his future in racing. The crash occurred at Turn 4, where Sargeant went on the grass a little bit, causing his car to spin and hit the barriers at 200 km/h. The driver was okay but the FW45 caught on fire and was almost completely destroyed, with only the chassis remaining intact. This was Sargeant’s third major crash of the season, increasing concerns within the team.

The situation around the crash now puts teammate Alex Albon in a tough spot if his car gets damaged this weekend, due to the limited spare parts left. Williams’s team principal James Vowles didn’t even try to hide his frustration.

"A hundred people worked for weeks on our major upgrade and worked their fingers to the bone so that we could use two cars with the new parts. And then everything was in ruins within a second. It was an unnecessary accident. You don't take full risks in the third practice session in the rain."

Unfortunately, despite the effort of the mechanics, Sargeant couldn't participate in Qualifying, however, he still got the green light from FIA to participate in Sunday’s race, even with no time set.

Sargeant's frequent crashes have fueled speculation that he might be replaced before the upcoming Monza Grand Prix for the rest of the 2024 season before Carlos Sainz joins the team. The hottest potential candidate for Sargent’s seat is Mick Schumacher, former Haas driver and now driver for Alpine Endurance Team in hypercar and Mercedes reserve driver. His experience and skill make him an appealing choice for Williams. Further fueling these rumors, Vowles was spotted meeting with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shortly after the crash, possibly discussing Schumacher as a replacement.

The second name on the list is Liam Lawson, who is a part of the Red Bull junior program. However, that is exactly why this might not be a realistic option as Red Bull may not let him work for a Mercedes-powered team, which Williams is.

Last candidate on the list is Andrea Kimi Antonelli, basically 2025 Mercedes driver, who still hasn't been announced formally, however, that is more than expected to be done next week in Monza. Now he might be a good option for Williams until the season is over and then moves to Mercedes.

Williams has given many opportunities to Sargeant and has been really patient with him, however, too much is too much, and in the end what’s best for the whole team, matters the most, which is definitely not spending money on unnecessary crashes in free practices.