Only American F1 driver getting another shot after rough rookie year

Formula 1 will be seeing the Stars and Stripes again next season as Logan Sargeant is staying with Williams Racing. The 22-year-old, who is the first American F1 driver since 2015, will retain his seat alongside Alex Albon in 2024, the team said in a statement Friday.

‘I am thrilled to be continuing with Williams Racing for the 2024 season,” Sargeant said in a statement. ‘It has been an incredible journey with the team so far, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a driver within such a talented and dedicated group. We have exciting plans for the future, and I can’t wait to contribute to the team’s success in the coming year.’

The American finished 21st in the drivers’ standings in his rookie campaign, last among drivers who were still active at the end of the season. He either did not finish or finished last in six races, including his home race, the Miami Grand Prix. He finished one point behind AlphaTauri driver Liam Lawson, who secured two points in five races filling in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo.

Sargeant got his lone point at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October. He finished 10th after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified when their cars did not pass post-race inspection. With the finish, he became the first American driver to earn a point since Michael Andretti’s third place finish at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix.

Williams Racing finished 2023 seventh in the constructors’ standings with 27 points from Albon and Sargeant’s one point.

Williams Racing team principal James Vowles explained the reasoning behind keeping Sargeant on the team:

“Logan has demonstrated immense skill whilst under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team,’ Vowles said in a statement. “We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season.’

Sargeant hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and moved to Europe as a child to chase his dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver. He climbed the Formula ladder and finished fourth in F2, earning him enough super license points to secure an F1 seat last October.

Sargeant joined the grid at a time when the sport expanded in the United States. There were three races in the United States this year for the first time, including the Miami Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix. There hasn’t been an American race winner since Mario Andretti stood at the top of the podium at the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix.

“I want to be able to learn and adapt as quickly as possible to be at the top of my game,” Sargeant told USA TODAY Sports in May ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. “If I perform to the best of my ability, the results will come so it’s not something to really worry about. I just really want to enjoy it and take it all in.”