No American Drivers at This Year’s United States Grand Prix

This year’s United States Grand Prix will notably lack an American driver on the grid, marking a disappointing moment for fans of the sport. Last year, rookie Logan Sargeant, representing Williams, made headlines by becoming the first American to score points in Formula 1 since the legendary Michael Andretti in 1993. He finished in a commendable 10th place at the renowned Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Unfortunately, Sargeant, who was the sole American driver with a seat in Formula 1, saw his contract terminated by the Williams team in August. Team principal James Vowles commented on the decision, stating, “He’s reached the limit of what he’s able to achieve — and in fact it’s almost unfair on him to furthermore continue with him.”

Logan Sargeant’s achievement of scoring points last year was significant, as he became the first American driver to do so in over two decades. However, his tenure with Williams came to an end, paving the way for his replacement, Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto. In just his second race, Colapinto made an impressive debut by finishing 8th in Azerbaijan, surpassing what Sargeant had managed throughout his 18-month stint with the team.

The absence of an American driver in Formula 1 is not simply a one-off occurrence. In the three decades that spanned from Andretti’s last points to Sargeant’s achievement, American representation has been minimal. The only other American drivers during that time were Scott Speed, who raced from 2006 to 2007, and Alexander Rossi, who participated in five races in 2015.

The F.I.A., the governing body of the sport, has established a structured single-seater racing pyramid, which includes karting and regional entry-level championships such as Formula 4 and Formula Regional. However, the most competitive and well-supported series are predominantly based in Europe, which is also home to the primary feeder series for Formula 1: Formula 2 and Formula 3.