Even if no other driver will use it next season, Logan Sargeant, who is planning to bring the Stars and Stripes back to Formula One, would be disappointed to find that he won’t be allowed to use his favorite number.
Prior to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Williams Racing team president Jost Capito indicated that Sargeant would replace Nicholas Latifi as a driver for the team in 2019 provided the American could get a Super License from the FIA, which oversees Formula One.
With one race left, Sargeant, who is third in the F2 standings, must place sixth or better to get his Super License. Sargeant leads the seventh-place driver by 12 points.
The first important choice Sargeant must make might be more difficult than he anticipated if he obtains his Super License and gets promoted to F1.
Sargeant was questioned over the Formula One driver number he would choose before to the US Grand Prix.
I personally would choose [No.] 3 if I had the privilege of having that option, Sargeant stated. “My favorite is that. Undoubtedly, Daniel Ricciardo now has it. That is, however, my preferred number.”
Sargeant said that he chose the number 3 just because he liked it. He did, however, point out that it was also the legendary NASCAR racing number worn by American racing star Dale Earnhardt.
Drivers may choose their vehicle number when they join Formula 1 as of 2014. Despite the fact that Sargeant won’t be able to utilize Ricciardo’s iconic No. 3 in 2023, F1’s sporting rules forbid it.
“A driver’s Formula 1 career shall be judged to have finished if he does not compete in an Event for two (2) complete consecutive Championships,” according to the FIA. In other words, even if he doesn’t take part in any races in 2023 or 2024, Ricciardo will still be a driver in Formula One and will retain his No. 3 car.
It’s interesting to note that Ricciardo chose the No. 3 in part due to Earnhardt, the NASCAR great who the Australian grew up to be a tremendous admirer of.
Sargeant’s situation is made worse by the fact that drivers are required to stick with one number for the duration of their careers, with the sole exception of the reigning champion, who is permitted to switch to the No. 1 if they so choose. Lewis Hamilton did not change after any of his championships, but Max Verstappen did this year. Therefore, once Sargeant chooses a number for the next season, he won’t be able to switch to No. 3 until 2025, which is the earliest it may become available.
Sargeant competes for Carlin and is a member of the Williams Driver Academy. His success in his rookie F2 season has shocked many. At the British Grand Prix earlier this season, he became the first American to win an F2 race. Later, he earned a second victory at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Sargeant will have the same issue with respect to alternative numbers. The No. 6 is utilized by Sargeant in F2, however it has the same problem as Latifi’s No. 6 this season. Latifi’s replacement, Sargeant, will hold the No. 6 position until at least 2025.
The next obvious alternative for a number may be 33, but Verstappen is the owner of that one even if he is now No. 1 and will be competing against it next season.
Even though he competes as the No. 1 driver and the reigning champion, Max Verstappen has the No. 33.
Since current IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi began five races in 2015, Sargeant, who participated in the US Grand Prix’s first practice session last week with Williams, would be the first American to compete in Formula One. Scott Speed, who competed for Toro Rosso in 2006 and 2007, was the last full-time American driver on the starting grid. Prior to Speed, the last American to claim a victory in an F1 race was Mario Andretti in 1982.