Formula 1 Japanese GP

Sargeant: Suzuka F1 crash a "silly error" I shouldn't be making in FP1

Logan Sargeant has admitted that he made a “silly error” when he had a huge crash in FP1 at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

Adam Cooper

Adam Cooper

Published: Apr 5, 2024, 8:21 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

The damaged car of Logan Sargeant, Williams FW46, is taken away on a truck by marshals after a crash in FP1

The American ran wide at the high-speed Dunlop Curve left-hander and having put his right-hand side wheels on the grass, he lost control and spun into the barrier.

He hit with both the front and rear, damaging the suspension and cracking the gearbox of the FW46.

Fortunately the chassis, which was shipped back to the UK and repaired after team-mate Alex Albon’s FP1 crash in Australia, escaped intact. The team still does not have a spare on hand.

Sargeant was forced to miss FP2 as the mechanics undertook repairs. However, a damp track meant that little meaningful running was completed by anyone, and thus both Williams and Sargeant didn’t miss out through the lost track time.

Nevertheless it was another expensive incident for the team, especially with a second gearbox damaged in two events.

"I put the car into place I didn't realise I was at,” Sargeant admitted. “It's a bit of a silly error, to be honest, one that I shouldn't be making, especially in P1.

“But yeah, fortunately it wasn't like the mistakes last year, it wasn't an over-pushing thing, but nevertheless still left the team with some damage. Fortunately got away better than it could have been."

Sargeant insisted that he hadn’t suffered any loss of confidence in the wake of having to give his car to Albon in Australia.

"Definitely wasn't knocked at all,” he said. “If anything I came into this round after a week off feeling more fresh and ready to go than ever.

“So no confidence lost. I wanted to kick myself a little bit after today, but nothing to do with that, just a visual error that I'll move forward from tomorrow."

Williams team principal James Vowles agreed that the accident was down to a car placement error on Sargeant’s part, rather than because he was trying too hard or attempting to prove a point after his Australia disappointment.

“What you saw here wasn't a driver making a mistake because they were pushing to the limits,” he said. “It's a very different type of mistake, a frustrating one by all accounts, because it wasn't on the limit of what the car could do.

“There was far more turning potential in it, he just didn't know where the car was on track, relative to where he expected it to be anyway.

“So I don't think you're seeing there the reaction of someone that wasn't driving in Melbourne, you're seeing more just a situation that could have appeared at any time.”

Read Also:

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article 2024 F1 Japanese GP results: Verstappen fastest in practice

Next article Mercedes F1 car feels best it has all season, says Hamilton

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Adam Cooper



RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024

Formula 1

Formula 1

Japanese GP

RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024



Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team



Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

More from

Logan Sargeant



Former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant announces engagement

Formula 1

Formula 1

Hungaroring Pirelli test

Former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant announces engagement



Logan Sargeant hopes for Max Verstappen in Ford Hypercar: “He’s going to kick everyone’s ass”

WEC

WEC

Spa

Logan Sargeant hopes for Max Verstappen in Ford Hypercar: “He’s going to kick everyone’s ass”



Why Logan Sargeant does not miss Formula 1 as he makes his WEC debut

WEC

WEC

Imola

Why Logan Sargeant does not miss Formula 1 as he makes his WEC debut

More from

Williams



Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP



Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid



How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Formula 1

Dutch GP

How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Latest news



Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

6 min

Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash



Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

37 min

Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett blast Carson Hocevar: "That's not racing"



Five things we learned from MotoGP's steamy Malaysian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Malaysian GP

Five things we learned from MotoGP's steamy Malaysian Grand Prix



Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 h

Kimi Antonelli reveals why he won’t take number 1 for the 2027 F1 season

Feature

Discover prime content



Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Stuart Codling

Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate



How Ferrari's loss became Max Verstappen's gain at F1's Mexico GP

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

How Ferrari's loss became Max Verstappen's gain at F1's Mexico GP



The seven moments that defined Kimi Antonelli's F1 title win in 2026

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The seven moments that defined Kimi Antonelli's F1 title win in 2026



Why lap times in Mexico have been so much closer to the previous F1 era

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Stuart Codling

Why lap times in Mexico have been so much closer to the previous F1 era

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe