Alex Albon has conceded that having to use older specification parts in the Monaco Grand Prix cost his Williams Formula 1 team-mate Logan Sargeant last weekend.
Williams has been laboured with part shortages in the opening rounds this season amid the team’s push to overhaul its car concept this term creating tight deadlines.
The Grove-based squad ran without a spare chassis up until the sixth race in Miami and Albon’s shunt in Australia even saw Sargeant become placed on the sidelines.
But while it has since rectified that and now has a third tub available on-site each weekend, Williams has introduced upgrades that have been available to a single car.
That was applicable in Monte Carlo at the weekend as Albon received an updated rear wing, which he used to advance to Q3 and claim the team’s first points in 2024.
However, Sargeant was eliminated in Q1 and finished in 15th place, with Albon contending that the American’s prospects were impacted using last season’s rear wing.
“Obviously it cost him today,” Albon said about the parts. “It would have made a difference. I don’t know how far off he was from Q2, but it wouldn’t have been much.
When told that Sargeant had wound up three-tenths behind him during the opening segment, Albon replied: “Yeah, so it would have been most likely in Q2.”
Albon admitted that having both cars running alternative configurations was a concern and revealed Sargeant should receive the upgrades at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“Yeah, it is,” he responded when asked whether Williams was worried about it. “It’s something that we want. The good thing is we will have one ready for Barcelona.”
Meanwhile, Sargeant admitted on the eve of the race weekend that it was “tough” to demonstrate what he can do when the two drivers aren’t running equal FW46 cars.
“I think I have a chance this weekend, but at the same time, it’s tough when some upgrades are coming for him,” Sargeant proclaimed.
“But at the end of the day, the team knows the cross-car differences, so even if you don’t see it on track, it’s still able to be calculated off.
Pressed on how often this circumstance was arising, Sargeant, whose contract expires at the end of this season, added: “I don’t know. I don’t keep track of it like that.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to have both cars as good as we can, but obviously it’s more difficult than that.”
Sargeant’s chances at retaining his seat in 2025 alongside the renewed Albon appear slim, with both Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz now in talks with the British outfit.
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