Ted Kravitz and Martin Brundle disagree on Williams driver call in Australia

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Martin Brundle has called Williams’ decision to let Alex Albon replace Logan Sargeant at the Australian Grand Prix a ‘no-brainer’.

Albon will drive Sargeant’s car for the remainder of the weekend after crashing his own in first practice.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Brundle and colleague Ted Kravitz took different stances on the dilemma that faced Williams.

The Grove outfit didn’t have a spare chassis available for the race in Melbourne, which left Kravitz stunned.

That meant that, when Albon damaged his, Williams needed to decide which driver to prioritise.

The team have since confirmed that they will give priority to the Thai driver and ask Sargeant to step aside for final practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix.

Albon hit the barrier twice, first at the front-right and then at the left-rear, after losing the rear on the exit of turn six.

Kravitz and Brundle disagree as Williams swap Sargeant for Albon

Speaking during FP2, before Williams had made their call, Kravitz predicted that team principal James Vowles would allow Sargeant to continue racing.

He felt that making the swap would be contrary to Williams’ values as a racing team.

He said: “I don’t think there’s any expectation or realistic prospect of them taking Sargeant’s car away from him.

“I just don’t think that’s the way they go racing. I’m not sure that’s the way James Vowles would do it.

“I could be wrong.”

Brundle, on the other hand, felt that it was clearly the right call to pin their hopes solely on Albon.

He said: “My point of view on that is that it’s an absolute no-brainer.

“If you’ve only got one car, you’d put Alex Albon in it.

“Let’s hope they don’t need that.”

Sargeant’s F1 future now even in greater doubt

Albon scored 27 of Williams’ 28 points in last year’s constructors’ championship to underline his status as number-one driver.

He’s comfortably beaten Sargeant in both races this season, though he’s yet to score a point.

Albon has also reached Q2 at both rounds, while the American has bowed out in the first part of qualifying.

Friday’s decision appears to be a damning reflection of Sargeant’s standing within the team ahead of the expiry of his contract.

Vowles told him before the season began that he needed to be the biggest ‘surprise’ of the campaign to maintain his drive.

There are suggestions that the Grove outfit are lining up Mercedes youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a replacement.