In just a month Logan Sargeant has moved from a podium contender in FIA Formula 3 drive into the race FIA Formula 2, and now, as a graduation, he got his first chance to take a test formula 1 Car in Young Drivers’ test after the season in Abu Dhabi.
The young American tested with that Williams F1 team, the outfit that got him into their junior driver program earlier this year, and he completed ninety-two laps of the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.
Sargeant admitted that getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time was “incredible” and praised the team for giving them the car and the confidence to spend all day at Yas Marina Attack Circuit.
“What an incredible first day in a Formula 1 car; it was everything I expected and more, ”Sargeant said. “First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to Williams because that has been the experience of my life. The team did a great job preparing me for today and gave me the confidence to go out, enjoy it and do my best.
“We followed through on the schedule and I made really big progress during the test. The first couple of runs felt amazing with the amount of grip and power the car has, but I got used to it pretty quickly and felt good at the end of the day.
“It’s definitely a huge step up from the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 cars; braking performance is much better and there is much more downforce. The braking force was like nothing I felt before!
“The more you drive, the more you learn and the more pace you find, so I was happy with my lap times when we crossed the finish line today.”
“Logan did an excellent job today” – Dave Robson
Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance at Williams, found Sargeant to be “excellent” on his first day in a Formula 1 car and, despite his lack of experience at this level, did not make any mistakes worth mentioning.
Since Williams doesn’t bring a mule car to the test to drive the 18-inch Pirelli Tires, Sargeant was the team’s only representative in testing with the 13-inch tires used in 2021, and Robson said he impressed everyone with his attitude and performance.
“Logan did an excellent job today,” said Robson. “It was his first time in a Formula 1 car and he didn’t do anything wrong. We worked him through a full program that introduced him to a range of situations and experiences typical of a normal F1 racing weekend.
“He completed 92 laps with the medium and soft tire compounds from last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and adapted to the physical and mental challenges of an intense F1 program with ease and professionalism.
“Everyone on the track and everyone in Grove who helped prepare Logan for today is delighted, impressed and proud to see what he has achieved.
“Since joining the Williams team in October, he has been working towards the present day and taking this rare opportunity to drive a current F1 racing car. His experience today gives him a great position to work with us to develop the FW44 and will also improve his skills before his next competitive race. “
Logan Sargeant had his first taste of F1 machines in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday – Photo credit: Williams Racing
