£15k-a-week F1 driver and 232-point teammate not driving ‘equal’ cars this year

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One of the only ways to determine just how fast a driver is in Formula 1 is by comparing them to their teammate.

They’re supposed to be the only other driver on the grid in equal machinery but that isn’t always the case.

For example, Visa Cash App RB ran different setups on their cars in Austria after a set of updates didn’t work as planned.

It saw Daniel Ricciardo get the better of Yuki Tsunoda that weekend although the roles were reserved at Silverstone.

Speaking on the Nailing The Apex Podcast, journalist Tim Hauraney was talking about another team that might not be giving their drivers the same cars.

Several teams have struggled to provide the required number of parts throughout the season due to budget and time restraints.

Williams are one of those teams, with Alex Albon handed Logan Sargeant’s chassis at the Australian Grand Prix after he crashed in practice.

Albon narrowly missed out on points that weekend but has added four points to his career tally of 232 this season.

It’s been a tough campaign for him and Sargeant and Hauraney believes the £15,000-a-week driver still doesn’t have the same car as his teammate.

It’s made life difficult for the young American who is one of three drivers who is yet to get off the mark this season.

Sargeant is fighting to save his Williams seat and not being on an equal footing with Albon doesn’t help at all and is only harming his reputation.

READ MORE: Williams driver Logan Sargeant’s life outside F1 from height to Donald Trump ties

Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon don’t have the same Williams car

Hauraney: “For Logan [Sargeant] to get to where he’s got to, finally getting a car with almost the same equipment because the cars still aren’t even.

“Something that I had come across in the paddock, it still doesn’t sound like the cars are equal and I mean he’s performed really well.

“There have been rumours that he could get replaced during the summer break. My understanding is that is a possibility.

“Whether or not Alpine wants to let Esteban [Ocon] go early and pop him up to Williams.”

READ MORE: Williams driver Alex Albon’s life outside F1 from net worth, girlfriend to parents

Alex Albon waiting to discover his next Williams teammate

Logan Sargeant will be very frustrated that he’s not been on a level playing field with Albon this season.

This is partly self-inflicted as the American has had several crashes that have set the team back in terms of developing new parts.

However, even though Williams engineers have praised Sargeant, he does look set to be replaced.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship

Valtteri Bottas is currently the favourite to replace Sargeant with his Sauber contract set to expire.

The Finnish driver started his F1 career with the British team but would likely want assurances that he’s driving the same car as Albon next year.

Williams started the year on the back foot with team principal James Vowles putting processes into place to avoid further disruption in the future.

That’s set the team back in 2024 and Vowles admitted he would be happy to sacrifice this season to benefit Williams going forward.

That may be how the campaign is going to play out but that won’t be any consolation to Sargeant if he ends up losing his seat.