The Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix weekend took a dramatic turn during the third free practice session (FP3) at Zandvoort, as Williams driver Logan Sargeant suffered a severe crash that resulted in his car catching fire. The American driver lost control at the exit of Turn 3, spinning into the barriers and causing significant damage to his Williams FW46.Sargeant, who was able to exit the vehicle safely, immediately reported over the team radio, ‘I’m okay’. The incident, which occurred approximately 15 minutes into the session, led to an extended red flag period lasting 44 minutes while marshals cleared the debris and repaired the barriers.Williams team principal James Vowles expressed concern about the extent of the damage, stating, ‘Qualifying is going to be on us pretty quickly, it’s in a pretty bad state’. The team faces a race against time to prepare the car for qualifying, with the possibility of a chassis change being considered.When the session resumed, only two minutes of running time remained. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly set the fastest time, followed by Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo). Notably, championship leader Max Verstappen finished 17th and received a warning for aggressive driving in the pit lane.The incident adds to Sargeant’s challenging season, with his future at Williams already confirmed to end after 2024. As teams prepare for qualifying, the unpredictable weather conditions and the aftermath of Sargeant’s crash have added an extra layer of complexity to an already dramatic Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
Key points
- Logan Sargeant crashed his Williams car during FP3 at the Dutch Grand Prix, causing a fire and 44-minute delay.
- Sargeant escaped unharmed, but his participation in qualifying is doubtful due to extensive car damage.
- The shortened session saw Pierre Gasly set the fastest time, with championship leader Max Verstappen finishing 17th.
Contradictions👾While most sources reported Sargeant saying ‘I’m okay’ after the crash, one source quoted him as saying ‘It was a great day’, which seems inconsistent with the severity of the incident.
