Shock mid-season driver swap rumored involving Esteban Ocon and Logan Sargeant

F1 pundit Ted Kravitz has claimed that there are rumors of Esteban Ocon and Logan Sargeant being involved in a possible mid-season swap. While the Frenchman had announced that he would be parting ways with the Alpine F1 team at the end of the 2024 season, he remained a prime target for the Haas F1 team for next year.

Sargeant, on the other hand, has been fighting to keep his seat at Williams for next year and it has seemed more and more unlikely after every race weekend that he will be in the sport in 2025.

Williams F1 team principal James Vowles even hinted at ousting the American during the 2024 season and the latter thus not seeing out the end of the season.

During his Ted's Notebook segment on Sky Sports, Kravitz threw around a couple of potential replacements for Logan Sargeant's seat and added some comments about rumors swirling in the paddock about Ocon potentially taking the opportunity. He said:

“What is being rumored around the paddock is that Alpine could suggest an early release for Esteban Ocon, who could go to Williams. Alpine could get Doohan in for an early debut ahead of a potential full-time race driver next year.

"That swap could enable Williams to have an experienced hand, like Ocon, in their car. Maybe after the summer break.” he added.

Esteban Ocon analyzes his 'complicated' qualifying session in Silverstone.

Alpine F1 driver Esteban Ocon stated that Saturday was a complicated qualifying session for him, as he qualified P18. The 28-year-old was effectively the slowest driver in the session as Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly were not heavily involved in Q1.

As per F1.com, Ocon said:

“It was a complicated session with the drying track and stoppage for the red flag, but ultimately, we did not optimize our Qualifying today. We did not take the right decisions at the right time, and we seemed to be offset compared to the others, and not pushing when the track was probably at its best.

"Then there was some confusion at the end where I thought we had one more push lap and I was told to abort the lap. In the end, it is a frustrating day that we did not maximize and one that we need to review."

Ocon predicted a difficult outing for himself in the main race on Sunday given his starting position of P18 but was confident that as a team they "will try [their] best to move forward, especially if the weather stays like it is with changeable conditions.”

Esteban Ocon is currently P17 in the Driver's Championship with three points, while his teammate Pierre Gasly has six points, from the 11 races and three Sprints thus far in the 2024 season.