Logan Sargeant has been by an eventful interval. In 2024, he misplaced his Williams System 1 seat halfway by the season to Franco Colapinto, bringing his F1 profession to an finish after fewer than two full campaigns.
Since then, Sargeant has sampled a spread of motorsport classes, from IndyCar to IMSA’s LMP2 class. He had additionally been set for a transfer to the European Le Mans Sequence by a cope with Genesis, however that programme by no means materialised.
Two years after leaving System 1, the 25-year-old is now within the World Endurance Championship paddock. He makes his sequence debut this weekend at Imola for Proton Competitors, sharing the #88 Ford Mustang LMGT3 with Stefano Gattuso and Giammarco Levorato.
He additionally already is aware of that from 2027 he’ll be a part of Ford’s Hypercar programme, alongside Sebastian Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller.
In an unique interview with Motorsport.com, Sargeant mirrored on life after F1 and what lies forward.
“Firstly I took a bit little bit of break day,” Sargeant stated. “On the finish of 2024, I did an IndyCar take a look at, I did a LMP2 take a look at, after which I took a bit extra break day. Performed golf, frolicked in Florida, so simply took simply a while with family and friends.
“After which I felt like driving once more, so I obtained into LMP2 at IMSA. I’ve accomplished three races in that previously half a 12 months. That went very, very properly. And the Ford contract wasn’t too far behind that, and now excited to be right here on this automotive, and much more excited for the hypercar that is coming.”
The very best expertise since leaving F1, Sargeant says, has merely been getting again behind the wheel.
“In all probability, I might say, getting again into it was very enjoyable,” he defined. “Exhibiting as much as Indy, the IMSA race, and being extraordinarily fast after not driving for a 12 months was fairly enjoyable.
“After which, in fact, I feel that that led to larger issues, in order that was in all probability the very best.”
Logan Sargeant, Proton Ford
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
Totally different driving type
Having pushed two high-downforce vehicles in IndyCar and LMP2, Sargeant is now adapting to a machine with considerably much less downforce: the GT3.
He admits the Mustang LMGT3 drives “very totally different” in comparison with what he has raced in recent times.
“It is lots heavier, very totally different driving type, so I really feel prefer it’s coming collectively for me,” defined the previous Williams driver. “It is nonetheless not the place I need it to be, when it comes to simply pure method of driving, however nonetheless, it is nonetheless a great problem.
“It is increasing my toolbox, that is for certain. I am certain there’s components of what I am doing this 12 months in a GT3 automotive that I will be capable of apply subsequent 12 months, regardless that it is a very totally different automotive.”
Figuring out will probably be a studying course of, Sargeant heads into the season with out mounted expectations.
“I simply need to go into every weekend,” he confused. “In fact, I nonetheless must study the automotive to a sure extent, and it isn’t been the simplest automotive to drive this weekend, so nonetheless attempting to get on prime of that a bit bit.
“However all we will do is execute the race as finest we will, make certain they’re clear, make certain we keep away from any self-inflicted penalties or issues, and wherever that leaves us, it leaves us. Hopefully, hopefully now we have the tempo to be in an honest place.”
#88 Proton Competitors Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant
Photograph by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Photograph
Optimistic indicators within the simulator
Subsequent 12 months, Sargeant will transfer into the highest class of the WEC with Ford’s Hypercar programme. There had been rumours he may have already got entered the championship this 12 months by an IDEC Sport deal linked to Genesis Magma Racing, however as an alternative he’s dedicated to Ford now and subsequent season.
“I by no means signed something with Genesis,” Sargeant confused. “I’ve stated many instances, however I wished to have that break, which is what we had spoken about earlier and after I took that point off, after I felt like driving once more, I went into the LMP2 in IMSA and from there the talks began with Ford and that led to this.”
A number of particulars of Ford’s Hypercar challenge are already recognized. The American producer will race with an ORECA chassis and a naturally-aspirated 5.4-litre V8 engine, whereas Sargeant, Rockenfeller and Priaulx have already been confirmed as the primary three drivers.
There are nonetheless some unknowns, nonetheless – even for Sargeant himself.
“I have not seen any ideas, however I feel the timeline is form of depending on when the automotive is prepared, in order that’s nonetheless to be confirmed, so which means testing is to be confirmed. However hopefully we will get an honest quantity accomplished within the second a part of the 12 months,” he stated.
Though the precise Hypercar just isn’t but full, loads of work is already happening behind the scenes within the simulator.
“We’re already on the simulator, in order that’s good,” Sargeant revealed. “Working by methods, engaged on all of the variables that may be accomplished earlier than the automotive is prepared.
“That is all underway, which is nice and which is optimistic. And from the simulator, we’re getting a great feeling, however in the end, till now we have a automotive for actual that we will correlate to the sim, we are going to [not] actually know the place we’re at.”
Logan Sargeant, Proton
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
Eyes on Le Mans
Now that he’s spending a season within the slower GT class first, Sargeant expects to take precious classes from LMGT3 into Hypercar for his second 12 months within the WEC.
“I am certain there’s stuff that I am gonna be capable of take from driving the GT3 automotive and apply it subsequent 12 months,” he stated. “Regardless that it is a very totally different automotive, you’ll be able to all the time study one thing.
“Even when that is from pit stops to only perfecting driver modifications to coping with visitors to tyre administration, no matter it could be, there’s stuff you’ll be able to take. And I’ve already began taking a few of that within the IMSA races I’ve accomplished. So, yeah, it’s all simply increasing a toolbox to be prepared for no matter comes subsequent 12 months.”
Though his quick focus is on the 2026 season, Sargeant already is aware of the long-term goal for Ford’s Hypercar programme.
“I feel the principle objective for everybody is to win Le Mans, that is for certain,” the American stated. “Whether or not that occurs instantly or a number of years in, we’ll see.”
“I feel now we have to be sensible that the primary 12 months may not be the simplest, coming into a brand new championship the place different producers have been in for a very long time.
“So we’re gonna hit the bottom working as fast as we will and it is gonna be crucial to be environment friendly, profit from the time that now we have main as much as subsequent 12 months and ranging from a great place.”
#88 Proton Ford Mustang GT3: Logan Sargeant, Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato.
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
Sargeant doesn’t miss F1
Along with his WEC debut – and understanding he will probably be there for not less than two years – the quieter interval since leaving F1 is formally over. Does he miss the sequence?
No, I am very desensitised – I assume [it] is the precise phrase – to F1,” he admitted.
“I actually do not care, to be sincere. By the top of it, I wasn’t to be there anymore after understanding the way in which that a few of the groups work. So, yeah, I used to be simply glad to maneuver over to the endurance aspect of the game, a extra fulfilling environment, a extra laid-back environment and one the place everybody’s collaboratively working in the direction of the identical objective.”
The WEC continues to draw extra producers, whereas extra younger drivers are additionally discovering their method into the championship – in each LMGT3 and Hypercar. With so few seats obtainable in F1, many abilities are wanting elsewhere, and WEC more and more seems to be a severe choice.
Does Sargeant see it that method too?
“Yeah, in fact. In the long run, I understand how a lot strain System 1 has, and in the event that they really feel like driving afterwards, that is clearly a call they should make, however it’s positively an incredible place to finish up,” he refers to WEC. “It is a implausible championship, implausible producers and a great place to go racing.”
Though he has not but pushed Ford’s LMDh in actual life, Sargeant expects to take pleasure in Hypercar greater than F1.
“Yeah, for certain. I feel possibly not talking from a driving perspective, however talking from an environment perspective, from an setting, I really feel like I am in a great place.
“Once more, having two team-mates the place you are all working in the direction of the identical factor, making compromises for one another, nonetheless that could be. It is only a good, totally different type of racing.”
Lengthy future in WEC
#88 Proton Competitors Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant
Photograph by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Photographs
His WEC profession has solely simply begun, however Sargeant hopes to stay within the championship for a few years.
“I hope so,” stated the Ford driver when requested whether or not he sees himself racing there long run.
“For certain it is an incredible championship to compete within the highest class of endurance racing and doubtless the best stage endurance racing on the earth. Having the ability to race at Le Mans within the highest class, that is a pleasure. So, for certain, it is one thing I need to do for some time,” he concluded.
Photographs from Imola – Saturday
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Imola – Saturday, in images
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
