FIA F2: America’s Next Formula 1 Driver?

As Who knows Who Will get there First. Sargeant, Herta, Neither?

 

Presumably by now, Y’all know about American FIA Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant’s upcoming Formula 1 drive this Friday at Circuit Of The Americas in Austin. As Sargeant will participate in His maiden (Free Practice) FP1 session for the eponymous Team Willy’, now simply Williams Racing during this year’s U.S. Grand Prix.

 

Logan Sergeant

Carlin, #6

Born: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

DOB: 12/31/00, Age: 21

 

Cannot Help wondering, and Arse-suming that Floridian Logan Sargeant must have crossed paths with Jupiter, Florida’s Oliver Askew and Kyle Kirkwood during Thar formative Karting Day, even if briefly? As Logan began Karting at Age 8 before going Across thoust Gory Puddle in 2009 to compete Internationally.

 

Reportedly Logan became the latest Yank’ to win the Karting World Championship in 2015, with the last Yank’ winner a FIA Karting title being the unlikely Lake Speed in 1978! As Speed is primarily known for His NASCAR career, having made 402 Starts between 1980-1998.

 

During the winter of 2016-2017, Sargeant contested the Formula 4 UAE Championship for MotoPark in His Single Seaters Debut. Scoring 15 Podiums from 18 Races, Logan finished Runner-up to teammate Jonathan Aberdein.

 

Next Logan joined Carlin for the 2017 British Formula 4 Championship, finishing third Overall with two wins behind F4 Champion Jamie Carolin and Carlin teammate Oscar Piastri.

 

For 2018, Sargent joined R-ACE GP for the Formula Renault euroCup season, winning on Debut at Circuit Paul Ricard. Sargent then Bookended the season by winning the finale at Barcelona with a win at the Nurburgring in-between. Finishing fourth Overall behind Championship winner Max Fewtrel and others. Most notably finishing second in the Rookies Cup behind a Bloke named Christian Lundgaard…

 

The following year, Logan returned to Carlin for His Rookie FIA Formula 3 Championship campaign, in what can only be considered a “learning” year, finishing a “Pedestrian” P19 Overall.

 

For 2020, Sargeant moved to Prema Racing and scored His Debutant FIA F3 victory in the Silverstone Feature race! Then followed this up by winning the Spa Sprint race. Yet ultimately finished third Overall behind His once again teammate Piastri, who won the Championship by four points. And Theo Pourchaire by a scant, single solitary point!

 

Sighting He wouldn’t be moving up to FIA Formula 2 due to Financial constraints. Sargeant remained in Formula 3 with Charouz Racing System, scoring His first of four Podiums, a third in Hungary. Then another third at Spa, second at Zandvoort before His only win of the season at Sochi. Finishing 7^th Overall.

 

Logan also made His FIA Formula 2 Debut at Jeddah for Hwa Racelab, before being confirmed at Carlin for His Rookie F2 campaign this year last December.

 

On July 3^rd, Sargeant “technically” became the first American to win a Formula 2 race. Although I’m 98% certain that former Yank’ GP2 Bad Arse Alexander Rossi would scoff at that superlative! Since Rossi won four times in the Formula 1 Feeder series before graduating to Formula 1…

 

Nevertheless, Logan won this year’s British FIA F2 Feature race, before claiming His second Feature win a week later at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, after the two drivers ahead of Him were Handed Penalties.

 

Exactly a year ago, at last October’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Logan was announced as a Williams Driver Academy member and is set to make His Friday practice outing as part of the FIA’s mandated running of two Young Drivers in a Friday practice session by All ten F1 Constructors.

 

As Logan’s Carlin F2 teammate Liam Lawson, a Red Bull Junior Driver made His Friday practice F1 Debut for Scuderia AlphaTauri at the Belgian Grand Prix. As the Kiwi’s also claimed two F2 wins this season…

 

As of Spa-Francorchamps, with two rounds remaining, Sargeant trailed FIA F2 Championship leader Felipe Drugovich by a Healthy margin of 76-points. And was third Overall behind Theo Pourchaire, some 33-points ahead…

 

As that would be the FIA F2’s Top-3 Finishing order. As Drugovich clinched the F2 Championship during Saturday’s Feature Race at Monza, when Pourchaire Failed to score enough Points to Deny the Brazilian the title. Whilst Sargeant finished third Overall.

 

As next up will be Logan’s Friday FP-1 Outing at circuit Of The Americas, where possibly we’ll see two Yanks’ on the Formula 1 Grid briefly? 

FIA F3: American Drivers You’ve probably never Heard of Before?

Since I’d certainly Not Heard of either of these Drivers previously…

 

Continuing this No Fenders “Deep dive” into aspiring Yanks’ plying their trade in gory Europe, here’s the other Half of the current American Quartet contesting this year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship in Hopes of advancing to FIA Formula 2. For which I’ll freely admit, I’d never Heard of either driver previously.

 

Kaylen Frederick

Hitech Grand Prix, #17

Born: Potomac, Maryland

DOB: 6/4/02, Age: 20

 

Kaylen Frederick began Karting at Age seven before making His Single Seater Debut at Age 14 in 2016. Although due to being only 14, Kaylen was forced to miss the first six races of that year’s F1600 championship since He was under the series minimum Age requirement. Nevertheless,

Kaylen scored His maiden win that season, along with three second place finishes to finish seventh Overall driving for Team Pelfrey. He also made His U.S. F2000 National championship Debut for  Team Pelfrey at Laguna seca that year.

 

For 2017, Frederick competed fulltime in U.S. F2000 for Team Pelfrey, scoring five Podium finishes enroute to fourth Overall in the Championship behind Oliver Askew, Rinus VeeKay and Parker Thompson. While the following year Kaylen switched to Pabst Racing Services and finished sixth Overall in the series.

 

At year’s end Frederick made His European racing debut when contesting two rounds of the Euroformula Open series before committing to His Rookie BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin for 2019. Kaylen scored two wins enroute to P9 in the championship. Then Frederick Blitzed the field with nine wins and won the final British F3 title in 2020.

 

For 2021, Frederick graduated to the FIA Formula 3 championship with His current team Carlin, finishing 22^nd Overall and now is contesting His Sophomore FIA F3 campaign, having switched to Hitech Grand Prix.

 

Hunter Yeany

Campos Racing, #21

Born: Virginia Beach, Virginia

DOB: 5/11/05, Age: 17

 

Hunter’s Karting career must have been fairly average, since little is known about it. Before making His Single Seater Debut in the 2020 U.S. formula 4 Championship which He thoroughly Dominated with seven wins and 14 podiums whilst driving for Velocity Racing Development. (VRS) Where Hunter’s teammates were current Indy Lights racer Kyffin Simpson and Eric Evans. As Yeany skipped the season’s final round in order to make His FR Americas Debut at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) Season Finale instead, albeit as a Guest Driver He was inelibible for collecting any points from His Top-10 finishes.

 

For 2021, Yeany raced a multitude of Open Wheel Racing series, notably contesting the full FR Americas season with VRS, where He finished 12^th Overall. Along with a partial Indy Pro 2000 campaign with Velocity where He finished P14.

 

Hunter also contested three rounds of the GB3 Championship along with making His FIA Formula 3 Championship Debut for Charouz Racying system at Spa-Francorchamps as Enzo Fittipaldi’s replacement. As Enzo had moved up to FIA Formula 2. Yet Hunter was forced to miss the final F3 rounds due to His FR Americas commitment. With Hunter’s best finished being 18^th for Charouz.

 

For the 2022 FIA Formula 3 season, Yeany switched to Campos Racing, where I’d say He’s had a fairly “quiet” season, being ranked P32 Out of 38 Drivers with 0-points as of the Spa-Francorchamps outing.

 

Although Hunter’s season has been interrupted after Breaking His wrist during the Spielberg Sprint race. Being forced to withdraw from the following Feature race as well as the Hungarian weekend’s outing.

 

As Oliver Goethe, a 17yr Old Teenager Born in London and of Danish and German descent, Crikeys! Who Substituted for Yeany at the Hungaroring, also continued Deputizing for Hunter at the following Spa-Francorchamps round, as Yeany’s wrist continues Healing. With No word on when the young American driver will return… 

FIA F3: American Drivers Chasing their Dreams of Glory

But can Any of these Yanks’ make it to thee Pinnacle ‘O Motorsports?

 

Presumably Y’all have heard about current IndyCar Driver Colton Herta’s maiden Formula 1 Test outing for McLaren abourd a year old McLaren MCL35M chassis at Portimao, Portugal Wayback’ over July 11-12, Righto? As Herta’s been signed to a McLaren Testing contract and Arse-sumedly we’ll see Him taking part in the (Free Practice) FP1 session at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) this Fast approaching October 21-23 weekend…

 

Yet Colton’s not the only Yank’ with aspirations of reaching the Pinnacle of Motorsport, for which I’ve only just become aware of several other Yanks’ plying their trade in Formula One’s Feeder Series. Most notably thanks to the previously unknown Jack Crawford’s recent triumph at the Red Bull ring.

 

Jack Crawford

Prema Racing, #5

Born: Charlotte, NC

DOB: 5/2/05, Age: 17

 

Jack Crawford began Karting in Houston at the tender age of six. Winning several National Karting championships along with competing Internationally before making His Single Seaters Debut in 2018. Winning six races and amassing eight more podium finishes, Crawford finished runner-up in the NACAM Formula 4 Championship behind Manuel Sulaiman, a future Indy Lights competitor.

 

For 2019, Jack raced a partial U.S. F2000 National Championship season campaign for two teams, albeit missing the season’s start due to being too young, ultimately finishing seventh Overall.

 

In January, 2020, Crawford became a member of the vaunted Red Bull Junior Team. Along with contesting both the German (ADAC) and Italian F4 Championships, finishing Runner-up to Red Bull Junior Team member Jonnny Edgar in the ADAC F4 series. Before graduating to the FIA F3 championship the following year with Hitech Grand Prix, finishing 13^th Overall in His Rookie season.

 

For 2022, Crawford switched to the Italian Powerhouse Prema Racing Team and became the first Yank’ to win in the FIA F3 championship, claiming the Podiums top step in the Austrian GP FIA formula 3 Support rounds Sprint race, His maiden F3 victory. And then currently sitting fourth Overall, 28 points behind leader victor Martins prior to the next outing at Hungary.

 

Following the Mighty Spa-Francorchamps weekend, Crawford had dropped down to sixth, 26-points adrift of what had become a four way scrum for the title! With Isack Hedjar, Oliver  Bearman and Martin knotted at 106-105-104 points respectively. With Arthur Leclerc P4 with 101-points and Roman Stanuk in fifth with 96-points with four races remaining.

 

Following the Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zanvoort, Crawford Had Dropped a further position in the Points standings, now in seventh, 36-points adrift of Victor Martin. As the Frenchman regained His Points lead with 126 points, Holding a Slim lead of 5 Markers’ over Countryman Isack Hadjar entering the final two races at Monza.

 

And whilst Martin claimed the FIA F3 Championship at Monza. Crawford finished off His Sophomore season by finishing third in the Feature Race. Netting Him a total of five Podium finishes this season. His Austria win coupled with a pair of second and third places leaving Him seventh Overall.

 

 

Juan Manuel Correa

ART Grand Prix, #9

Born: Quito, Ecuador

DOB: 8/9/99, Age: 22

 

Juan Manuel Correa Borja has Dual Nationality and races under an American license. As perhaps Correa’s name is vaguely familiar to Y’all? That’s because He was involved in a fatality Crash at the Mighty Spa’ in 2019, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

 

Juan began Karting in 2008 and won titles in both Ecuador and the United States before making His Single Seaters Debut in 2016.

 

For 2016 Correa competed in both the ADAC and Italian F4 Championships, scoring three wins in the Italian series and finishing sixth Overall. While He finished P10 in the German series, before contesting a second season in both Formula 4 Championships.

 

Correa made His GP3 series debut Mid-season at Spa-Francorchamps for Jenzer Motorsport before contesting the full 2018 GP3 season with Jenzer. And although I’d say His results weren’t spectacular, finishing 12^th Overall. I do find it funny that Correa’s Bio points out that He finished four places Ahead of His only fulltime teammate Tatiana Calderon; Hmm, where have I Heard Her name lately?

 

For 2019 Juan graduated to FIA Formula 2 with the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz, where His teammate was a bloke’ named Callum Ilott. As we’ll never know if that season’s results would have turned out different for All involved?

 

Since you may remember that Correa was involved in a massive Shunt on lap-2 of the Spa-Francorchamps F2 Feature race, ricocheting into Anthoine Hubert’s racecar. Ultimately ending with Hubert’s Death, the first Formula 2 Fatality since Harry surtees occurred a Decade before at Z

 

Ironicaaly, Hubert’s Rookie teammate at BWT Arden that season was the series first Female Driver, Tatiana Calderon…

 

Both of Correa’s legs were completely Shattered from the Mega’ 65G Crash impact! With initial fears that His right Foot may need Amputating! While Correa would also suffer from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome following the Crash due to the High G-Forces suffered, and was place in a Medically induced Coma.

 

Due to the seriousness of Juan’s accident, He would require a year’s recovery before making His return to competition for the ART Grand Prix team in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2021, with Juan continuing in the series this season.

 

Correa was a member of the Lotus F1 Junior Team between 2014-2015, being Dropped when Renault took back over it’s Beleaguered F1 Team. Then for 2019 He was signed as an Alfa Romeo Development Driver, alongside Tatiana Calderon, who was an Test & Development Driver Herself.

 

Following His Accident and  return to racing in 2021, Juan re-signed as a member of the Sauber Academy, previously known as the Sauber Junior Team, which serves as Alfa Romeo’s Driver Development programme.