As a boy growing up in South Florida, Logan Hunter Sargeant savored every pulsating second, chasing his older brother on anything with wheels.
Miles later, this insatiable pursuit turned the young driver into a world racing phenomenon.
Sergeant, 22, can be the first Formula 1 driver from the United States to compete at the pinnacle of motor racing in nearly a decade when he gets behind the wheel on Sunday season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The confident rookie credits his older brother, Dalton, as a key inspiration ahead of the biggest event of his short profession.
“We began racing together,” Sargeant told The Post on Thursday from Bahrain. “In order that was my major source of competition. I’ve at all times fought with my older brother. I desired to be as fast as him and I desired to be nearly as good as him.
Logan said the natural impetus to beat the 24-year-old Dalton, who went on to make 22 starts in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series from 2015 to 2018, proved invaluable.
“As a little bit kid, it’s probably an enormous plus to have an older brother to chase after,” he added. “It instilled a little bit of competition in me. I’ve at all times been the little brother attempting to beat the big brother.
![Sargeant conducts pre-season testing with the FW45 Williams Racing car on February 24 in Sakhir, Bahrain.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007523214.jpg?w=1024)
At just 5 years old, Sargeant began his motorsport adventure as a go-kart driver. He said it was an easy romance.
“I used to be really young,” he recalls. “It was really something to have a good time with on weekends with my brother and pop, after which it just got more serious and competitive. It just escalated at an extreme rate.”
The kart racing champion has now found himself in F1, commanding the wheel of the British Williams Racing team, in one in all the 20 seats along with his teammate Alexander AlbonA 26-year-old resident of London, competing under the flag of Thailand.
He’ll drive Williams’ Mercedes FW45, a 79″ wide eight-speed blue beast with a supercharged gearbox (*8*)unveiled last month.
![Unveiled in February, the Williams Mercedes FW45 features a carbon fiber chassis, double wishbone front and rear suspension, eight gears and Pirelli tires.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007523213.jpg?w=1024)
Sargeant and Albon have logged over 1,400 miles in pre-season testing, but the season could possibly be tough for Williams, who finished last amongst the F1 teams in 2022.
Albon admitted on Thursday he’s “more pessimist than optimist” autosport.com reported.
“So I feel, not less than from preliminary testing, we’re the tenth fastest team,” said Albon. “You’ve got to be realistic. We definitely made a greater automotive, but in terms of pace, everyone did – so every little thing is relative. “
But Sargeant – the first American F1 driver since Alexander Rossi in 2015 – is convinced that his high-speed rampages in childhood and beyond could repay hugely.
![Sergeant with his brother Dalton, left.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007466200.jpg?w=819)
“I feel very relaxed,” he said. “I feel that my preparation was top notch, I feel that I left no stone unturned. I’m fully prepared – physically and mentally – and have had loads of work in the stimulator with the engineers.
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Sargeant currently lives in London but often thinks of the Sunshine State.
“I absolutely go home to Florida as often as I can,” he said, citing his close relationship along with his brother Dalton and his parents, Dan and Madelyn Sargeant.
“Each of my parents have at all times been very supportive of me in racing,” Sgt he told Formula 2 championship officials in June while racing for Carlin, one other British team.
(Logan’s uncle, meanwhile, Harry Sargeant III, is an oil and shipping billionaire in Florida, where he once served as state finance chairman of the Republican Party. previously linked to the impeachment trial of President Trump.)
Logan’s close family won’t be with him in Bahrain, but he expects to see his mother at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on April 2.
A month later, his parents, older brother and grandparents will join him for the Miami Grand Prix, dubbed by some as Formula 1’s “Super Bowl”.
![Logan Sargeant won two Formula 2 Championship races last year, including at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007539646.jpg?w=1024)
“I’ve never had the opportunity to race a Formula automotive in America,” he said. “And it is going to be an incredible experience to have my family and friends there in addition to the home crowd, energy and atmosphere.”
The star-studded event last May attracted a various lineup of luminaries, starting from LeBron James to Tom Brady to Paris Hilton to Miami in the inaugural 12 months of the ten-year contract.
Interest in Formula 1 amongst American fans has increased in recent years, thanks in large part to the popularity of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, a documentary series that chronicles drivers, managers and team owners.
Since the show debuted in 2019, ESPN F1’s viewership has doubled to 1.5 million.
The US Grand Prixheld in Austin, Texas since 2012, it attracted 250,000 fans in 2019 – the first 12 months of “Drive to Survive” – a rise of 15% from 2018.
This has grown to over 440,000 attendees in 2022, making it the most attended F1 race of the season.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 19 can be the third and final US race of the 2023 F1 season.
![At the age of 12, Sargeant moved to Europe to pursue his racing dreams. He has lived in London for several years but returns to Florida as often as possible, he said.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007539660.jpg?w=1024)
Drivers resembling Sargeant will reach speeds in excess of 220 mph along the Strip, marking the first Grand Prix in Sin City since 1982, the organizers announced in November.
The 23-race event concludes on November 26 with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the patriot sergeant believes the support he’ll receive in the States will see Williams move closer to the top of the F1 team standings.
“Being from America, I feel we’re all very patriotic and I really like where I’m from,” he said. “So I need to do every little thing in my power to represent the USA to the better of my ability. But I’m more looking forward to the three races in the USA. “
![Logan Sargeant, left, Oscar Piastri and Nyck de Vries answer questions at a press conference in Sakhir, Bahrain on Thursday.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007514627.jpg?w=1024)
Sargeant, who previously competed in the international slower speed championship, became the first US-born driver to win a Formula 2 race at the British Grand Prix last July.
Per week later, in his first full F2 season, he won the Australian Grand Prix again. He later finished fourth overall.
For now, Sargeant is absorbing his moment as one in all three F1 rookies this 12 months, together with Oscar Piastri from McLarenfrom Australia and Nyck de Vries from AlphaTauri the Netherlands.
![Sargeant in his #2 car drives Williams' Mercedes FW45 during testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 24 in Sakhir, Bahrain.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000007188180.jpg?w=1024)
Hours before the practice sessions starting on Friday, Sargeant said he was prepared to benefit from the “pretty amazing opportunity” that awaits him.
The F1 newcomer – up to now too focused on racing – believes he’s well prepared for the 57 laps of the 3.3km track ahead of him in Bahrain.
“I feel like I’ve done every little thing in my power to offer it my all,” Sargeant told The Post. “I’m confident going into the season pays off.”