Formula 1 can be an intimidating arena for anyone, let alone a rookie. That being said, the name of the game is to survive. Only 20 of the best drivers get a shot at the big leagues, and every year your prime focus is your own performance and the performance of your team. That’s exactly why camaraderie in the paddock isn’t always apparent. What’s more, F1 is by far the only sport where your teammate is your biggest rival. For American Logan Sargeant, 2023 is going to be the biggest test of his racing career. But does he have help in this cutthroat business we call Formula 1?

After acquiring the requisite points on his Super License, the rookie will be at the helm of Williams‘ 2023 challenger. We’ve seen rookies in the past shine, like Lando Norris and Alexander Albon. However, on the flip side, we’ve also seen the pressure of this sport get too much. For Sargeant, he will be hoping to get to grips with the basics pretty soon but for that he would require a helping hand from an experienced paddock frequenter. Luckily for him, he’s got a friend or two amongst the grid.

During a press presentation hosted by Williams, the 22-year-old American was asked whether he had approached any of the drivers in the off-season to seek some advice. He was quoted by GPBlog as saying, “I haven’t bothered any other drivers in the past couple of months because obviously they just come out of a long season and everyone’s just wants to get to the offseason.” 

However, there was a driver, who seemingly through his own experience, empathized with the rookie. “But you know, to be to be honest, George [Russell] has always been a good friend of mine and always has given me a lot of advice and he’s always been super helpful. So I’d say, yeah him and Alex [Albon] have definitely been super open and helpful on that side job.”

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Sargeant’s rise to F1 was actually a rushed job. There’s even the added pressure of being the first American driver in F1 for a long time. That being said, Sargeant’s only focused on putting his head down and has full trust in the process that has led up to this momentous milestone.

Logan Sargeant plays down the pressures of Formula 1

For Sargeant, getting into F1 would have been like a dream come true. But having said that, it doesn’t appear that the American racing ace is getting cold feet. When asked about the pressures of the sport and the responsibility of representing the US on a global scale, he was as cool as a cucumber.

He told Formula1.com, “I feel like, at the end of the day, I’ve put in as much hard work as anyone else to reach this point. I just have to look at it as, ‘prepare the best I possibly can to be the best driver I can possibly be’ next year.”

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How do you think Sargeant will stack up against the 2023 grid in his rookie year in F1?