07 February 2024 , 12:31
1022
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Logan Sargeant has piled on the pounds ahead of his sophomore Formula 1 season and says he feels "much more healthy" as a result.
Sargeant found the step up from Formula 2 last season to be a steep learning curve. Promoted a year earlier than planned, the American Williams racer managed just one single point - earned after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified in Austin last October.
Despite plenty of speculation over his future, Williams team principal James Vowles stood by the 23-year-old. And he was satisfied enough with the Floridian's progress throughout the campaign to offer a contract extension.
The pressure will be on Sargeant in his second season, particularly as team-mate Alex Albon earns plaudits from all sides for his performances in the same car. To prepare, the American has been working on his fitness over the winter break.
And he revealed the fruits of his labour while speaking to reporters after the team's season launch event this week. He said: "I think it's all in the details. I learned a lot throughout the season. I learned that I need to manage myself much better.
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"I let myself get very drained throughout the season and I let that affect me off the track which ultimately brings it onto the track. I wasn't physically in the place I need to be and I've done everything I can to get on top of that. For example, I'm five kilos heavier than I was at the end of last year and I feel much more healthy and much more ready to go.
"And from a driving point of view, just having that reference, every single track that I go to what Formula 1 cars capable of I can now really start on a much better foot going into these weekends. I know much more of what I can do behind the scenes as well to extract performance from a driving standpoint."
Sargeant has been working on his fitness (@logansargeant/Instagram)
The American F1 star says he feels healthier than ever (Williams Racing)Sargeant did not learn that he would get a second season with Williams until his first had ended. By that point, his seat was the last to be confirmed for the upcoming 2024 season - but he insists he was never truly worried that he would not get a new deal.
He added: "I wouldn't say surprised - I think we all saw at least from within the team that the improvement that was being made. I think qualifying [seventh] in Las Vegas was a bit of a statement. But I think generally I was quite confident you know I've had the support of the team for three years now since the end of 2021.
"I really never felt like I lost that. We all want to work together and do our best to make it work. We all just believe that if we put everything together and I get everything together from my side, we're going to be capable of doing the job that needs to get done."