A downcast Logan Sargeant dismissed the widespread speculation regarding his future in Formula 1 as he geared up for the upcoming Spanish GP.
Earlier in the week, ex-F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya stated that the Williams driver "already knows" he is on thin ice in the paddock, amid whispers that he might be replaced by Kimi Antonelli before the end of the 2024 season.
"That's just a rumour," Sargeant asserted.
"People just know how to play the media."
However, the 23-year-old seemed annoyed when French broadcaster Canal Plus asked him about being perceived as possibly the slowest driver in F1.
"Thanks very much," he responded curtly.
Sargeant argued that it has been largely overlooked that his car was substantially heavier and less developed compared to the one driven by his teammate Alex Albon throughout much of 2024.
"It's unlikely that many people knew that Alex and I compete in different cars," he explained. "I think this weekend will be the first of the season when the cars will be the same, more or less. This was supposed to happen in Canada, but due to some delays, the installation of new parts was delayed."
Williams' team principal James Vowles is reportedly eyeing Carlos Sainz to team up with Albon next year, and even Albon expressed a preference in Barcelona for "an experienced" teammate in 2025 and beyond.
"We are at the beginning of a long journey," he noted. "We need feedback."
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, the soon-to-be former Ferrari driver, said on Thursday that he is not yet ready to share his plans for 2025. Kevin Magnussen from Haas referred to the Spaniard as the "cork in the bottle" of the current driver market.
In a conversation with Spanish journalists in Barcelona, Sainz played down his influence on the market's pace.
"Honestly, that's how F1 works, unfortunately," he remarked. "My future also depended on (Lewis) Hamilton's decision. Nobody told me about Hamilton."
"It's a pretty tough sport at that level, because we all get along well, we all try to help each other, support each other, warn each other."
Williams is expected to announce later on Friday that Sainz, 29, will join the team starting in 2025.
