How American Logan Sargeant Is Fast Becoming a Top F1 Candidate

• American Logan Sargeant trails Felipe Drugovich by just 39 points in the Formula 2 standings.

• Sargeant has finished second, first and first in the past three Feature Races—the contests that provide the biggest points payoff—and is undoubtedly the driver in form.

• The 21-year-old Sargeant remains an outsider for a 2023 Williams F1 seat.

Formula 2’s title battle is intriguingly placed as the championship enters the second half of its 2022 season—and American Logan Sargeant has firmly thrust himself into contention.

It has been an impressive few months for a driver who last year was left at something of a career crossroad. Sargeant’s prospects hung in the balance in late 2020, unable to step up to Formula 2 due to finances, following two years in Formula 3.

Sargeant eventually got a late deal to remain in Formula 3, with the backmarker Charouz squad. He scored one win and 102 points, which marked an impressive return. By comparison, Charouz’s three drivers this year have collected just one point.

It was a season of treading water, but it has paid off handsomely.

Last October, Williams F1 signed Sargeant to its Driver Academy program and placed him into Formula 2 with the departing HWA Racelab team for some experience. This year, Sargeant is driving with the traditionally powerful Carlin squad for 2022. It was a career-saving deal that prevented Sargeant from dropping off the Formula 1 ladder.

A rocky start to the season has been firmly cast aside after a succession of fine displays.

Sargeant was only ninth in the standings after Monaco, 75 points behind veteran Felipe Drugovich, but that deficit has been slashed to 39 and he is now Drugovich’s nearest rival. Sargeant has finished second, first and first in the last three Feature Races—the contests that provide the biggest points payoff—and is undoubtedly the driver in form.

“I think the start of the season was tricky,” Sargeant says. “A lot of, let’s say… I feel like I was lacking quite a bit of experience, in terms of procedures, the way the car was feeling, and a lot of tracks I didn’t know very well. Coming into the second half of the season I was feeling much more comfortable and confident, coming to the tracks I know better. The progression is now on the path I would have hoped.

“One of the biggest struggles at the start (of the season) was it’s a massive increase of grip from practice to qualifying, because we’re on a different (tire) compound, and now I don’t have to find as much time on that second run in qualifying—and knowing the tracks better helps. I’m already starting in a much better place when I come (to the events).”

Sargeant remains an outsider for a 2023 Williams seat, with Alexander Albon expected to stay, and last year’s Formula 2 champion and Alpine reserve Oscar Piastri heavily linked to the berth currently occupied by Nicholas Latifi. But the suggestion is that a door remains slightly ajar for the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native.

“At the end of the day I just need to try and keep up that level of performance, and if I do that, it should be looking good,” he says.

Does that mean Formula 1 in 2023 is a possibility?

Sargeant smiles, chuckles, before adding “I don’t know,” which prompts a similar follow-up question and a return to the PR-friendly response. “The honest answer is I have no idea. Like I said, I’m just trying to maximize the results in Formula 2, and by the end of the year I’ll know what that means.” Sargeant is undoubtedly strong in the self-assurance department, not dismissing his 2023 chances, while Williams has been actively raising his profile in recent months.

Formula 1 has been without an American driver since Alexander Rossi’s brief five-race stint in 2015, while Scott Speed was the last full-time racer until he was axed by Toro Rosso midway through 2007. Michael Andretti was the last American to score a point in Formula 1, way back in 1993.

Since then Formula 1’s popularity has boomed in the United States, accelerated by Liberty Media prioritizing the market, with Las Vegas contracted to join 2022 debutant Miami and long-term US GP host Austin on the 2023 schedule.

“I think when I was growing up (the U.S.) was mainly focused on NASCAR,” says Sargeant, who was on the ground for last year’s “absolutely insane” Austin round and this May’s “really cool” inaugural Miami event, witnessing Formula 1’s evolution. “I think it’s definitely in the best place it’s ever been in my lifetime at least.”

If Williams did require financial assistance to enhance Sargeant’s prospects the 21-year-old is optimistic that “being an American driver, I’m sure there’d be a certain level of interest there from somewhere” and “hopefully if that (money) was needed we would find it.”

Formula 1 outings for this year remain TBC. Sargeant ticked the box for Williams at last December’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi and Williams still has to run a rookie driver in one practice session at some stage this season. Being London-based has allowed Sargeant swift access to Williams’ factory in Grove, Oxfordshire, for meetings and to grasp any simulator opportunities, while also being well-placed to visit Carlin’s base in Farnham, Surrey.

Williams has made it clear that Sargeant’s task is “definitely just to concentrate on Formula 2” and it is a pivotal period. Back-to-back events in France and Hungary, and a triple-header across Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, are split by the summer recess. A large gap in the calendar between Italy and mid-November’s finale in Abu Dhabi leaves Sargeant hopeful of attending several grands prix to further assimilate within Williams’ set-up and learn from being present.

If Sargeant continues on this current trajectory then he’ll firmly give Formula 1 team officials something to ponder for 2023.