By Lenny Sundahl
At the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, Logan Sargeant will become the first American driver in Formula 1 since 2015 when he takes the grid for Williams, and we very nearly had a second driver until Colton Herta’s efforts to get a seat at various teams were stymied by FIA Super License guidelines, which follow a points system that places greater weight on the FIA’s Global Pathway ladder system into Formula 1.
So, with this emphasis, barring any new developments we should look to America’s hopefuls in Formula 2 and Formula 3 for possibilities. Who among these could join Sargeant in representing the Stars and Stripes on the Formula 1 grid in the coming seasons?
photo: jakcrawfordracing.com
JAK CRAWFORD
Not turning 18 until May, Crawford has yet to win a series title, but the Red Bull junior driver has not failed to impress. He finished 2nd in the Mexican NACAM Formula 4 series in 2018-19, missed the ADAC Formula 4 title by just two points in 2020, and finished third in the 2021 Euroformula series with eight wins in just 13 starts in between his Formula 3 commitments. After a win and seventh in points in Formula 3 in 2022, Crawford moves to Formula 2 for 2023 with Hitech Pulse-Eight, and can be expected to compete for wins this upcoming season.
photo: fiaformula2.com
BRAD BENAVIDES
Results have been hard to come by for the 21-year old Benavides, who enters Formula 2 with PHM Racing by Charouz, but with the new collaboration between the F2 backmarkers and PHM–which only formed last season and were immediately competitive in lower formulae–this breath of fresh air might be enough to lift the fortunes of both team and driver.
photo: jmcorrea.com
JUAN MANUEL CORREA
Correa’s recovery from his horrific accident at Spa in 2019 has been borderline miraculous; he returned to Formula 3 for 2021 and 2022 with ART Grand Prix, and contested the Formula 2 finale at Abu Dhabi for Van Amersfoort Racing. Now 23, he will continue to race for them this season, and once again fight for a spot in the highest levels of racing.
photo: fiaformula3.com
HUNTER YEANY
After winning the 2020 Formula 4 United States title, Yeany had a transitional 2021 split between America and Europe before running the 2022 season in Formula 3 for Campos. However, an injury took him out of three race weekends, and the 17-year old looks to rebound with Rodin Carlin’s Formula 3 team for 2023. Interestingly, this will be the fifth straight year that Rodin Carlin has run an American driver: Yeany follows Sargeant, Benavides, 2021 Euroformula champion Cameron Das, and…
photo: kaylenfrederick.com
KAYLEN FREDERICK
Frederick, 20, moved to Carlin’s FIA Formula 3 team in 2021 on the heels of winning the 2020 British F3 title. He’s now on his third team in three seasons in Formula 3, and–at ART Grand Prix, where 2022 champion Victor Martins drove–his most competitive seat. Frederick will be looking for more of those championship vibes to put together results that have eluded him in these most recent seasons.
