Austin, Texas –
An American driver approaches Formula 1.
Williams reserve driver Logan Sargeant will get a spot for the 2023 season if he earns enough super license points to qualify, team boss Jost Capito said Saturday ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
Sargeant can do this by finishing fifth or higher in the F2 feeder series. He is currently third but only nine points separate third from sixth in the standings with one race remaining in Abu Dhabi.
The 21-year-old Sargeant would be Nicholas Latifi’s replacement next season and the first American driver in F1 since Alexander Rossi in 2015.
“We think he’s ready to race,” Capitol said. “And on condition that he has enough super license points after Abu Dhabi, he will be our second driver next year.”
Sargeant would pass IndyCar driver and F1 hopeful Colton Herta, who many had targeted as likely the next American driver but was frustrated by the super license points process and failed to qualify.
American fans and racing investors have longed to see an American driver in F1 as the sport’s popularity booms in the US. ESPN and Formula 1 on Saturday announced a new three-year broadcast rights deal through 2025 amid a rapidly growing viewership on the network.
“I think this is great news,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said of Sargeant’s chance to race next season.
“The American public is very committed to Formula 1. We need an American driver. And not just a driver, but a successful one,” said Horner.
Sargeant drove Friday’s first practice for Williams and the team announced he will get two more practice sessions next week in Mexico City and at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Both sessions could help him earn points towards earning his F1 racing licence.