Logan Sargeant to Race for Williams; Would Be First American F1 Driver Since 2015
Oct 22, 2022
MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Logan Sargeant of United States and Carlin (6) looks on from the pitlane during the Round 13:Monza Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 11, 2022 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
Logan Sargeant is on track to become the first American Formula One driver since 2015.
Per Williams Racing CEO and team principal Jost Capito (h/t ESPN's Nate Saunders), Sargeant will get the call to replace the outgoing Nicholas Latifi, pending him being granted an FIA superlicence.
According to Saunders, "Sargeant needs to have 40 points on his superlicence to join the grid—he now has 28 and could get 30 from planned Friday practice appearances in Mexico and Abu Dhabi if he completes over 100km, penalty free, in both."
In addition to taking part in those practice sessions, Williams announced Saturday that Sargeant, 21, will also compete in the Young Driver Test after the 2022 season.
Alexander Rossi was the last American to race in F1. He had five starts in 2014 and 2015.
Sargeant raced on the FIA Formula 3 Championship from 2019 to 2021 before getting the call to F2. He notably finished third overall in F3's 2020 season.
This year, Sargeant became the first American to ever win in F2 after emerging victorious at the British Grand Prix.
The Williams Driver Academy product got his first practice action at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez Wins Singapore F1 After Investigation; Max Verstappen Fails to Podium
Oct 2, 2022
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 02: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari F1-75 during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 02, 2022 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images,)
Max Verstappen will have to wait another week to clinch the 2022 Formula 1 title.
Sergio Perez took home Sunday's shortened Singapore Grand Prix and remained the winner after an investigation to determine whether he will retain the victory. F1 officials looked into whether he committed a safety violation by getting too close to the safety car, which could have seen him demoted to second place behind Charles Leclerc.
However, Perez was only given a five-second penalty, keeping him ahead Leclerc.
Perez keeps his win. He gets a five second time penalty for one infringement. And a reprimand for the second. Report also says he was warned by the Race Director. #consistency
“It was certainly my best performance, I controlled the race. The last few laps were so intense. I gave it everything for the win today. ... I have no idea what’s going on I was just told to increase the gap. All in all, a fantastic day," Perez said after the race.
Verstappen struggled throughout the day on his way to a seventh-place finish.
A downpour in Singapore led to the race being delayed by more than an hour, leading to the race being run under a time limit.
Verstappen, who expressed frustration after a poor qualifying effort, never quite found a rhythm as he was searching for a sixth straight win. He never came close to sniffing the podium and had to pit after locking up during lap 41.
The defending F1 champ came into the weekend with a chance at clinching a repeat but needed significant help. He needed to not only win the race but also have Leclerc and teammate Perez have less-than-stellar performances.
Neither was ready to give up on their championship chances. Perez and Leclerc paced the field for nearly the entire race, making it impossible for Verstappen to clinch even if he would have wound up taking the victory.
Still, barring a cataclysmic collapse, Verstappen is on his way to a breezy championship in one of the greatest seasons open-wheel racing has ever seen. He is three wins away from surpassing the record for most wins in an F1 season (13 by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel).
Verstappen will need a 108-point advantage over Leclerc and Perez to clinch the title next week in Japan. That gives him several more potential clinching scenarios than he came into this Sunday having, though his best avenue remains to achieve his 12th win of the campaign.
Lewis Hamilton, who raced Verstappen down to the wire a year ago for the championship, continued his disappointing 2022 campaign with a ninth-place finish. After a run of five straight podiums from the Canadian to Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton has finished no better than fourth in his last four races. He's currently in sixth place in the points standings and has long been eliminated from contention.
Max Verstappen resumes his Formula 1 World Championship push on Sunday at a track in which he has never won. Verstappen comes into the Singapore Grand Prix...
2023 Formula 1 Schedule: Dates for Las Vegas, Record 24 Races Revealed
Sep 20, 2022
MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Star of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 11, 2022 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images )
Formula One announced its 2023 schedule on Tuesday, featuring 24 races for the first time, per Matt Morlidge of Sky Sports.
Today the FIA World Motor Sport Council has voted to approve the @F1 calendar for 2023.
The schedule adds two events compared to the 22-race season for 2022.
There will also be three races in the United States as the sport continues to grow in popularity, including an inaugural event in Las Vegas on Nov. 18.
Organizers previously announced an exciting track around the Las Vegas strip for the anticipated event:
50 Laps. 17 Corners. 3 Straights. 2 DRS Zones. Our 3.8 mile track will weave past world-famous landmarks, casinos and hotels cutting through the neon heart of the Las Vegas strip. Drivers will push their luck to breaking point at speeds of up to 212 mph. #LasVegasGP#F1@F1pic.twitter.com/HPia7tdPnW
Other American events will take place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and the Miami International Autodrome in Florida.
The China Grand Prix will return to the schedule after a three-year absence, while the Qatar Grand Prix will make its second appearance after debuting in 2021.
"The presence of 24 races on the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is further evidence of the growth and appeal of the sport on a global scale," FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in a statement.
"The addition of new venues and the retention of traditional events underlines the FIA's sound stewardship of the sport."
There will be no event in France in 2023, despite Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc of Monaco currently ranking among the top 11 in the driver standings.
The season will begin on March 5 in Bahrain, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining the final event on Nov. 26.
F1 Driver Alex Albon Hospitalized in ICU After Suffering Respiratory Failure
Sep 12, 2022
MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 08: Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams talks to the media in the paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 08, 2022 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula One driver Alex Albon suffered respiratory failure and had to be hospitalized on Saturday, according to a statement from Williams Racing.
Albon underwent successful laparoscopic surgery earlier on Saturday for an appendicitis but suffered "unexpected post-operative anaesthetic complications" that led to his respiratory failure.
The 26-year-old was transferred to intensive care at a hospital in Monza, Italy, but made "excellent progress overnight and was able to be removed from mechanical ventilation yesterday morning."
He didn't suffer any further complications and has been transferred to the general ward. He is expected to be discharged and return home to England on Tuesday.
Per the Williams Racing statement, Albon is focused on his recovery and making his return to the track for the Singapore Grand Prix on Oct. 2.
The Thai driver had been scheduled to race in the Italian Grand Prix this past weekend but pulled out Friday because of appendicitis.
Appendicitis, surgery and no racing isn’t what I was expecting this weekend!
Negatives: - Missing out on what looks like a strong weekend for us - Pain
Nyck de Vries replaced him in the field, making his F1 debut. The 27-year-old was the Formula 2 champion in 2019 and the Formula E champion in 2021. The Dutchman finished ninth, scoring two championship points for Williams.
Albon was promoted to F1 in 2019 under Scuderia Toro Rosso, though he was promoted to Red Bull Racing after just 12 races and remained with the team for the 2020 campaign, finishing seventh.
He was demoted to the role of test and reserve driver for Red Bull in 2021. He joined the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and finished sixth overall. Albon joined Williams Racing ahead of the 2022 campaign and is ranked 19th in the drivers' standings.
Max Verstappen Tops Charles Leclerc to Win 2022 F1 Italian Grand Prix
Sep 11, 2022
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen steers his car during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza on September 11, 2022. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
Max Verstappen earned his 11th win of the 2022 Formula One season with Sunday's victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
The starting grid at Autodromo Nazionale Monza looked different than most races with Max Verstappen beginning in seventh and Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz at the back due to getting hit with penalties after qualifying.
The top drivers still showcased their ability, with Verstappen quickly making his way to the front and building a large lead. The race ended with a safety car after a Daniel Ricciardo stoppage, allowing Verstappen to earn his fifth straight win.
It helped build an even more dominant lead in the driver standings with six events remaining.
Charles Leclerc took an extra pit stop and couldn't make up the ground before the yellow flag, finishing in second place for Ferrari. George Russell earned the final spot on the podium ahead of Sainz and Hamilton.
It was still a dominant performance from a driver who has been tough to catch all year long.
With a big lead in the drivers standings and starting in P7, Verstappen could have stayed conservative in this race. However, he stated his mindset in a pre-race interview.
"We don't need to win anymore, but we want to win," the driver told ESPN.
This was clear once the race began as Verstappen zoomed into third position and eventually into second by the fifth lap:
The straights on the Italian track provided few opportunities for passing and large gaps between each position as the laps counted down.
It led to a story we have seen many times this season: Verstappen cruising to victory with the Ferrari strategy being questioned. Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll were the only drivers to pit twice before the late safety car.
Ricciardo's stoppage created some drama down the stretch with a potential restart, but the laps had run out and Verstappen clinched his victory.
The drivers will now have a three-week break before the next two races in Singapore and Japan.
Ferrari finds itself in a terrific position to win on its home soil at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. Charles Leclerc earned the pole position during...
Max Verstappen sits in a perfect position to win his home Formula One race for the second straight year and extend his lead in the drivers' championship over...
Max Verstappen Wins 2022 Belgian F1 Grand Prix; Lewis Hamilton Crashes out on Lap 1
Aug 28, 2022
SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 28: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 28, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Michael Schumacher's single-season wins record is officially in jeopardy.
Max Verstappen continued his dominant 2022 Formula One campaign Sunday, breezing to a victory in the Belgian Grand Prix for his ninth win of the season.
The 24-year-old is only four wins behind Schumacher's record set in the 2004 campaign, a mark that many thought would never be broken. Verstappen has eight races remaining in the 2022 campaign, which gives him a little bit of an advantage over Schumacher, who won his 13 races in 17 tries.
Verstappen would have to win every race for the remainder of the 2022 season to eclipse Schumacher's all-time winning percentage mark.
Regardless of where he lands on the all-time list once the season is over, we're looking at a mortal lock for a repeat champion and one of the best stretches in racing history. Verstappen has won three straight races on two different occasions this season; he's the first driver since Kimi Räikkönen to win two straight in Belgium.
Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz Jr., George Russell and Charles Leclerc originally rounded out the top five Sunday. However, Leclerc was given a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane in an effort to earn the fastest lap of the race. The penalty pushed Fernando Alonso into fifth place. Meanwhile, Perez has now overtaken Leclerc for second in the points standings.
Leclerc is the only driver in F1 with multiple wins this season, but Ferrari has not been able to consistently give him top-flight cars. He has as many retirements as wins (three) and has finished off the podium in eight of his last nine races.
Perez has only one win this season but has finished second on six different occasions. This was his first podium since Great Britain after a shaky few weeks of action.
After five straight podium finishes, Lewis Hamilton's 2022 season turned back into a nightmare as he lasted only one lap before bowing out. Hamilton is currently on pace for the worst season of his F1 career. He's gone a career-worst 15 straight races without a win dating back to last season and sits a distant sixth in the points standings.
The seven-time F1 champion has never finished worse than fifth in points and was top-two each of the previous eight seasons. Sunday was only Hamilton's third retirement in the past six seasons.
After losing his chance at an eighth championship at the final race of 2021, it appears the torch in F1 has officially been passed over from Hamilton to Verstappen.
Alex Albon Signs Multiyear Williams Contract, Jokes About Oscar Piastri-Alpine Drama
Aug 3, 2022
HUNGARORING, MOGYOROD, HUNGARY - 2022/07/30: Alexander Albon of Williams in the paddock before final practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Formula One driver Alex Albon had some fun with the announcement that he signed a contract with Williams Racing and will be behind the wheel for the team in 2023.
That Piastri responded was notable because he has been in the middle of some drama with BWT Alpine. Alpine F1 announced its 2023 driver lineup would be Piastri and Esteban Ocon, with the former replacing Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso.
However, Piastri responded with the following message: "I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year."
Albon used similar wording in his announcement in a clear tongue-in-cheek moment.
Piastri is the reigning Formula 2 champion and seemed set to be an important part of Alpine's future in the coming years. However, Nate Saunders of ESPN reported the 21-year-old signed a pre-contract deal with McLaren, which just so happens to be battling Alpine for fourth place in this year's constructors' championship.
It is another blow for Alpine considering Alonso's departure comes as something of a surprise.
He will replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in a move Saunders said "blindsided" Alpine because he previously told the team he planned to drive for it in 2023 with an option for 2024.
Yet "Alpine's desire to keep Alonso for at least one more contract is what convinced Piastri and his manager, ex-Red Bull driver Mark Webber, to explore other options," per Saunders.
McLaren will still feature Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo next season, although Piastri could be a long-term replacement for the latter, who is under contract until the end of 2023.
As for Albon, he is in 19th place in this year's driver standings with three points. The 26-year-old earned one point at the Australian Grand Prix and two points at the Miami Grand Prix.
