Williams drops Logan Sargeant from its F1 lineup mid-season and promotes Franco Colapinto

GROVE, England (AP) — Logan Sargeant, the only American driver in Formula 1, was fired by Williams on Tuesday and will be replaced starting this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix by Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto.

Sargeant leaves F1 with one point in 36 race starts since he joined Williams at the start of the 2023 season. His best finish was 11th this season, a year in which Williams had given him clear performance goals to keep his seat through the end of the season.

Sargeant crashed heavily in practice at last week's Dutch Grand Prix and finished 16th in the race.

“To replace a driver mid-season is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season," team principal James Vowles said in a statement. “We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximize every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle.”

Vowles acknowledged the decision would be “incredibly tough” on Sargeant, who was already due to be replaced for next season as Carlos Sainz Jr. moves from Ferrari to Williams to partner Alex Albon for 2025. There are nine races remaining this season, two of them in the United States.

“I know firsthand how brutal this sport can be & it's tough to see Logan leave the team mid-season,” Albon posted on social media. “You gave it your all brother and it's been a pleasure being teammates with you. I know whatever you'll do next, you'll be awesome.”

Sargeant has not spoken publicly about his firing.

There's been speculation that Florida native Sargeant could make a move to IndyCar, potentially with Prema Racing, which is entering the series next season with two cars.

The 21-year-old Colapinto, who is sixth in the F2 standings, becomes the first driver from Argentina to race in F1 since Gaston Mazzacane in 2001. That was a long wait for a country with a proud tradition in F1 as the home of Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time champion in the 1950s.

“Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve but I am up for the challenge, and I’m fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to make it a success,” said Colapinto, who drove one practice session for Williams at the British Grand Prix last month using Sargeant's car.

Sargeant arrived in F1 at the start of last year as the first U.S. driver in the series since 2015. He had placed fourth in F2 in 2022 but struggled to be competitive in F1 against his more experienced teammate Albon.

The highlight of Sargeant's time in F1 came on home soil at the United States Grand Prix last year, when he earned the only point of his career in 10th — but only after two cars above him were disqualified for technical infringements. That made Sargeant the first American driver to score a point in F1 since Michael Andretti 30 years before.

It wasn't the breakthrough Williams had hoped for, however, and Sargeant regularly finished far behind Albon in qualifying and races this year.

In March, the team took the unusual step of benching Sargeant and giving his car to Albon at the Australian Grand Prix after Albon's own car was wrecked in a practice crash. At the time, Vowles praised Sargeant as “a true team player,” but the incident was a sign the team had little confidence he would score points.

“This is undoubtedly incredibly tough on Logan, who has given his all throughout his time with Williams, and we want to thank him for all his hard work and positive attitude,” Vowles said Tuesday after Sargeant was replaced. “Logan remains a talented driver and we will support him to continue his racing career for the future.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Williams driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina steers his car at the Silverstone racetrack in Silverstone, England, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Williams driver Logan Sargeant of the US steers his car during the first practice session ahead of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix auto race, at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Williams driver Logan Sargeant of the US posed for a picture when arriving for a press conference prior to the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix auto race, at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Williams driver Logan Sargeant of the US walks away from his car after he crashed during the third free practice ahead of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix race at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in Mexico's resort-studded Los Cabos area warned tourists and residents alike to stay inside Friday as Tropical Storm Ileana began to pound the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula with rain.

Ileana formed Thursday off the Pacific coast of Mexico and was lumbering north-northwest at 7 mph (11 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The forecast path would take it over or near the twin resorts of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

Ileana was centered about 35 miles (90 kilometers) east-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, the center said in a Friday afternoon advisory. Maximum sustained winds were at 45 mph (75 kph), and Ileana was expected to reach the coast in the next few hours.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for portions of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Forecasters predicted 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain would fall with Ileana, and up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) was possible for coastal areas of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states through Friday.

Ileana is expected to move across the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula Friday and over the southern and central Gulf of California this weekend.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in portions of Baja California Sur during the next several hours where Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect. This heavy rainfall will bring a risk of flash flooding and mudslides to portions of western Mexico and southern Baja California.

Los Cabos Civil Protection issued a red alert for Los Cabos and La Paz on Friday morning. “Stay totally indoors, do not go outside until authorities advise, and be aware of alerts issued by authorities,” they shared on Facebook.

They also urged residents to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and low areas where they can be swept away by water.

All schools in Los Cabos were also suspended Friday due to the storm.

Óscar Cruces Rodríguez of Mexico’s federal Civil Protection said in a statement that residents should avoid leaving their homes until the storm passes and if residents are in an area at risk of flooding to find temporary shelters.

Authorities prepared 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to Los Cabos Civil Protection.

At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet worker Alan Galvan said the rain arrived late Thursday night and has been constant. “The rain isn't very strong right now, but the waves are choppy," he said.

“The guests are very calm and already came down for coffee,” Galvan said. “There's some flights canceled but everything is ok at the moment.” Galvan said they are awaiting further advisories from authorities.

Felipe Gomez, a worker at the Vibrant Cabo San Lucas Marina Restaurant was the first to arrive at work, but was awaiting orders from management on whether they would close.

“Honestly it’s pretty ugly right now, the whole main boulevard is flooded and all the businesses are closed,” he said.

“I’m waiting for them to confirm and then I’ll go home," he said. "I hope it gets better and conditions don’t worsen.”

Hotels stand along the shore before the arrival of Tropical Storm Ileana in San Jose de los Cabos, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Figaredo)

This satellite image taken at 12:40 pm ET on Sept. 13, 2024, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows Tropical Storm Ileana at Mexico's southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. (NOAA via AP)