Williams F1 News: Team replace ANOTHER star driver in brutal mid-season switch

Williams

Star driver REPLACED by team in brutal mid-season switch

A driver has been left heartbroken after being replaced mid-season

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 11 September 2024 19:41 Updated: 21:20

A star driver has been left heartbroken after being replaced by their team midway through the season.

F1 has already seen one major driver swap mid-season, with Logan Sargeant being axed from Williams following a disastrous crash at the Dutch GP.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton BOMBSHELL emerges as boss accused of ‘destroying’ Mercedes star

Article continues under video

F1 RESULTS: Verstappen THRASHED by Red Bull team-mate as title fight takes twist

The American star has since been replaced by Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto, who was promoted from Formula 2.

Colapinto will remain at the team for the remainder of the season but will eventually make way for Carlos Sainz to join the team in 2025.

Logan Sargeant was axed midway through the 2024 season

Franco Colapinto will serve as Sargeant's replacement until 2025

Zak O’Sullivan makes shock F2 exit

An additional Williams star has received a severe blow to their racing career, with F2 star Zak O’Sullivan revealing he has had to step down from the sport due to funding issues.

“Firstly, I want to thank ART GP and Williams Racing for all of the support they have given me,” O’Sullivan wrote

“This year we have had some incredible moments, multiple wins and a big highlight of winning the feature race in Monaco.

“Unfortunately in our sport, there are more factors at play than just the stopwatch. The simple issue comes down to funding, I won’t be able to complete this F2 season with ART GP.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zak O’Sullivan (@zak.osullivan)

“I’m gutted to not be able to show my talents for the rest of the year, but I want to say thank you to all of my sponsors, Williams Racing and all of the supporters who are alongside me during this journey.

“Your support has been invaluable and I can’t wait to be able to drive for you and with you again soon.”

The 19-year-old has been replaced by fellow Brit Luke Browning, who will step up from Formula 3 after finishing third in this year’s championship.

Browning will join ART from this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix with hopes of securing a full-time drive in the series for next year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ART Grand Prix (@artgp_official)

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Williams Franco Colapinto Logan Sargeant