Logan Sargeant has been via an eventful interval. In 2024, he misplaced his Williams System 1 seat halfway via the season to Franco Colapinto, bringing his F1 profession to an finish after fewer than two full campaigns.
Since then, Sargeant has sampled a variety of motorsport classes, from IndyCar to IMSA’s LMP2 class. He had additionally been set for a transfer to the European Le Mans Sequence via 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 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 little bit little bit of day off,” 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 day off. 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 bought into LMP2 at IMSA. I’ve executed three races in that previously half a 12 months. That went very, very effectively. 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 most effective expertise since leaving F1, Sargeant says, has merely been getting again behind the wheel.
“In all probability, I’d say, getting again into it was very enjoyable,” he defined. “Displaying as much as Indy, the IMSA race, and being extraordinarily fast after not driving for a 12 months was fairly enjoyable.
“After which, after all, I believe that that led to larger issues, in order that was most likely one of the best.”
Logan Sargeant, Proton Ford
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
Completely 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 completely different” in comparison with what he has raced in recent times.
“It is loads heavier, very completely 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 manner of driving, however nonetheless, it is nonetheless a very good problem.
“It is increasing my toolbox, that is for positive. I am positive there’s elements of what I am doing this 12 months in a GT3 automotive that I am going to be capable of apply subsequent 12 months, despite the fact that it is a very completely different automotive.”
Understanding it is going to be a studying course of, Sargeant heads into the season with out mounted expectations.
“I simply wish to go into every weekend,” he harassed. “After all, I nonetheless have to be taught the automotive to a sure extent, and it isn’t been the best automotive to drive this weekend, so nonetheless attempting to get on prime of that a little bit bit.
“However all we are able to do is execute the race as greatest we are able to, be sure that they’re clear, be sure that we keep away from any self-inflicted penalties or issues, and wherever that leaves us, it leaves us. Hopefully, hopefully we’ve the tempo to be in a good 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 might have already got entered the championship this 12 months via an IDEC Sport deal linked to Genesis Magma Racing, however as a substitute he’s dedicated to Ford now and subsequent season.
“I by no means signed something with Genesis,” Sargeant harassed. “I’ve stated many occasions, however I wished to have that break, which is what we had spoken about earlier and after I took that point off, once 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 venture 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, nevertheless – even for Sargeant himself.
“I have not seen any ideas, however I believe the timeline is sort 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 are able to get a good quantity executed within the second a part of the 12 months,” he stated.
Though the precise Hypercar shouldn’t be but full, loads of work is already going down behind the scenes within the simulator.
“We’re already on the simulator, in order that’s good,” Sargeant revealed. “Operating via techniques, engaged on all of the variables that may be executed 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 very good feeling, however in the end, till we’ve a automotive for actual that we are able to 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 positive there’s stuff that I am gonna be capable of take from driving the GT3 automotive and apply it subsequent 12 months,” he stated. “Despite the fact that it is a very completely different automotive, you’ll be able to at all times be taught one thing.
“Even when that is from pit stops to simply 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 executed. So, yeah, it’s all simply increasing a toolbox to be prepared for no matter comes subsequent 12 months.”
Though his speedy focus is on the 2026 season, Sargeant already is aware of the long-term goal for Ford’s Hypercar programme.
“I believe the primary objective for everybody is to win Le Mans, that is for positive,” the American stated. “Whether or not that occurs instantly or a couple of years in, we’ll see.”
“I believe we’ve to be lifelike that the primary 12 months won’t be the best, 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 are able to and it is gonna be essential to be environment friendly, profit from the time that we’ve main as much as subsequent 12 months and ranging from a very good 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 figuring out he shall be there for at the least two years – the quieter interval since leaving F1 is formally over. Does he miss the sequence?
No, I am very desensitised – I suppose [it] is the proper 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 figuring out the way in which that among the groups work. So, yeah, I used to be simply completely satisfied to maneuver over to the endurance aspect of the game, a extra pleasing ambiance, a extra laid-back ambiance and one the place everybody’s collaboratively working in direction of the identical objective.”
The WEC continues to draw extra producers, whereas extra younger drivers are additionally discovering their manner into the championship – in each LMGT3 and Hypercar. With so few seats obtainable in F1, many abilities are trying elsewhere, and WEC more and more seems to be a critical choice.
Does Sargeant see it that manner too?
“Yeah, after all. In the long run, I understand how a lot stress System 1 has, and in the event that they really feel like driving afterwards, that is clearly a call they should make, nevertheless it’s positively an incredible place to finish up,” he refers to WEC. “It is a unbelievable championship, unbelievable producers and a very good place to go racing.”
Though he has not but pushed Ford’s LMDh in actual life, Sargeant expects to get pleasure from Hypercar greater than F1.
“Yeah, for positive. I believe possibly not talking from a driving perspective, however talking from an environment perspective, from an atmosphere, I really feel like I am in a very good place.
“Once more, having two team-mates the place you are all working in direction of the identical factor, making compromises for one another, nevertheless which may be. It is only a good, completely 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 positive it is an incredible championship to compete within the highest class of endurance racing and doubtless the best degree endurance racing on this planet. Having the ability to race at Le Mans within the highest class, that is a pleasure. So, for positive, it is one thing I wish to do for some time,” he concluded.
Pictures from Imola – Saturday
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