Logan Sargeant: American driver lands Williams F1 seat for 2023 after earning super licence
Logan Sargeant claims fourth in Formula 2 championship to clinch super licence and Formula 1 drive; American 21-year-old will partner Alex Albon at Williams next season, completing the 2023 grid
Monday 21 November 2022 13:26, UK
Logan Sargeant has secured his Formula 1 seat with Williams for 2023 after earning his super licence following the final round of the Formula 2 season.
Sargeant, the 21-year-old American, was revealed as Williams' preferred replacement for Nicholas Latifi at the United States GP last month, but the move was depending on him earning enough super licence points.
By finishing fifth in F2's season-ending Abu Dhabi feature race Sargeant clinched fourth in the championship - enough to take him over the 40-point requirement.
Sargeant, a Williams junior driver who has taken part in several F1 practice sessions this season, will therefore team up with Alex Albon at the Grove-based team next year, becoming the first US driver on the grid since Alexander Rossi in 2015.
It fills up the whole 2023 F1 grid after Haas confirmed Nico Hulkenberg last week.
"It's a huge honour and a dream come true to be given this opportunity to compete in Formula One with Williams," said Sargeant.
"A massive thank you to every person at Williams Racing and Dorilton Motor Sports for the support they've given me since the day I first joined the team as an academy driver at the 2021 United States Grand Prix.
"Being a part of the Williams driver academy for the past year has given me an important platform to develop and prepare me for this next chapter.
"I'm ready and excited to be a part of this journey as the team looks to progress up the grid.
"I feel like I've put in as much work as anyone else to reach this point and I just have to prepare the best I possibly can to be the best driver I can possibly be next year. Hopefully, that's good enough to stay in F1 for a long time."
Alexander Rossi, who competed in five races for Manor in 2015, was F1's last US driver. The United States will stage three races next season, with Las Vegas joining Texas and Miami on the calendar.
"I don't think it's any extra pressure," Sargeant said of being an American in a sport that is growing in the United States. "I have high expectations for myself as it is."
Williams finished last in this year's constructors' championship, scoring just eight points.
Team principal Jost Capito said: "We're delighted to officially announce Logan as our driver for next year after qualifying for a Super Licence following the final F2 event of the season in Abu Dhabi.
"Logan completes our exciting driver line-up for 2023 alongside Alex. He's had a strong rookie season in Formula Two, and we are excited to watch him make the step up in Formula One."
