Miami Grand Prix: Logan Sargeant on life in F1, ‘Lap of Legends,’ and extra

Formulation 1 is heading again to america.

And for one of many 20 drivers on the grid, it’s a true homecoming.

F1 returns to the US for the primary of three races stateside this weekend, with the third Miami Grand Prix. However for one driver specifically, this can be a true house race. Logan Sargeant, in his second season in F1, is ready to drive in his second Miami Grand Prix, simply minutes from the place he grew up in Fort Lauderdale.

SB Nation caught up with Sargeant this week earlier than heading to Miami, to speak concerning the begin to his second season, the stress of life in Formulation 1, racing in Miami, and even the one spot in South Seashore he would advocate for a chunk to eat.

A sluggish begin to the season

When Williams formally started the 2024 F1 season, unveiling their challenger for this yr at a dwell occasion in New York Metropolis, confidence across the group was excessive.

And with good cause.

Williams shocked the sphere final yr, in each Sargeant’s rookie season and the primary yr for Workforce Principal James Vowles. Because of a powerful efficiency from Alexander Albon, and Sargeant turning into the primary American driver since Michael Andretti again in 1993 to attain a degree in an F1 race, with a tenth-place end ultimately season’s United States Grand Prix, Williams managed a seventh-place end within the Constructors’ Championship.

The idea was that the group may construct on that efficiency, and possibly even push a spot greater up the desk.

Whereas there’s a variety of season left, it has been a sluggish begin for Williams. The group has but to open their account for the 2024 marketing campaign, and endured a troublesome weekend in Australia when a crash by Albon throughout follow left the group with only one operational automobile for the Australian Grand Prix. Vowles, calling it essentially the most “troublesome” choice of his profession, determined to slip Albon into Sargeant’s seat, sidelining the American driver through the race.

Our dialog started with the group’s begin to the season, and the place the group’s collective mindset is heading into Miami.

“I feel after I take a look at the group, there’s areas that all of us have to, you understand, try to enhance on. That all of us have to try to perform a little little bit of a greater job on, and I feel that’s the mindset. It’s simply making an attempt to get every thing out of one another,” described Sargeant.

Everybody desires to do their half to finally carry out the most effective we will over the course of a weekend. So for certain, we all know we have to do issues higher. But it surely’s not like we’re demoralized,” continued the Williams driver. “If something, we’re simply working in the direction of making the issues that may be higher, higher.”

One of many issues that’s higher for the group this yr?

Their automobile.

Whereas Williams has but to complete within the factors this season, Sargeant referred to as the FW46, their challenger for the 2024 season, a giant enchancment over final season’s FW45.

Sadly, that does include a catch.

“The automobile is a giant step ahead from final yr, one-hundred %,” began Sargeant earlier than laughing. “I feel the difficulty is everybody’s made a giant step ahead from final yr.”

“So it’s all the time relative. It’s all the time a problem. I feel this yr [it’s] nearer than ever in that, backside midfield, midfield pack and it’s the main points that matter at this level. There’s some issues in, in the end that ought to begin to assist us hold enhancing and hold getting extra, extra day out of [the FW46] however some persons are already bringing upgrades the previous few rounds and that’s undoubtedly uplifted them a bit.”

“We simply have to hold working laborious to maintain making an attempt to enhance ourselves,” continued Sargeant. “Little doubt it’s gonna be robust, it’s gonna be shut, however we simply have to hold engaged on ourselves.”

The principle objective for Sargeant, and the group, heading ahead this season?

Clear weekends.

“It’s been a bit of bit troublesome at instances for certain, however I feel there’s been a variety of constructive moments. So I feel we have now to try to lean into that finest we will,” described Sargeant. “I feel the massive factor is simply, I don’t assume as an entire we put collectively a clear weekend but, in order that’s our purpose, that’s what we wanna do.

“And, I feel if we try this, it could possibly depart us in a good place.”

Racing with “Legends”

We then turned the dialog to the upcoming “Lap of Legends.” Put collectively by Williams in partnership with Michelob Extremely, “Lap of Legends” pits Sargeant in opposition to former Williams legends together with Mario Andretti, Damon Hill, Jenson Button, and extra. SB Nation spoke with Button lately relating to “Lap of Legends,” however now it was time to get Sargeant’s perspective.

“It was actually cool,” began Sargeant.

“I imply, one of many largest items of a undertaking I’ve achieved ever, particularly over the past two years. And I feel a variety of the stuff we did was was actually, actually cool.”

For the driving force, maybe the most effective a part of the expertise was the time spent with the Williams legends.

“I imply, one of many coolest elements was having the ability to meet the legends of the previous in Williams’ historical past and even simply be capable to discuss to them, get recommendation from them. Simply having these conversations was particular, and to have them part of it’s undoubtedly necessary,” described Sargeant. “I feel that basically makes the undertaking entire.

“Simply having the chance to study and discuss to those guys who’ve had complete profession racing in Formulation One, and world champions. I feel it was very nice to listen to, I suppose you would say, a variety of the similarities, a variety of the totally different challenges that all of us face and the way they finest took these on,” continued Sargeant. “How they finest handled the issues throughout their profession. In fact, it’s a special era and issues change. However on the identical time we’re nonetheless racing drivers and we perceive one another, which is, which is simply good to have these conversations.”

Was there a bit of recommendation that Sargeant acquired that stood out essentially the most?

“I feel the massive factor was simply, and I feel all of us expertise, is simply to all the time imagine in your self. I feel all of us spoke about it and the way massive the game is from a psychological viewpoint, and the way it’s essential be mentally robust,” outlined Sargeant. “I feel the truth that all of us have skilled one thing like that throughout our careers and the way massive of a distinction that made by ensuring they’re in a position to keep on prime of that was good to listen to.”

One of many taglines within the promotional supplies for “Lap of Legends” talks about how the undertaking was designed to remind Sargeant to “benefit from the journey.”

So I requested the younger driver if that objective was achieved.

“I feel it’s all the time a kind of issues once you’re, you understand, the highest of knowledgeable sport, the highest stage of competitors, it’s laborious. You’re giving every thing you will have, it’s intense, it’s critical. You wish to do nicely, the stress to carry out no matter no matter it could be,” described Sargeant. “However I feel there’s undoubtedly moments all through, that I can pick the place I’m like, ‘oh, that was wonderful. That was tremendous cool to have the ability to try this and have that chance.’ So generally you do get caught up in it and it’s essential remind your self to step again, take a look at it from a special perspective. And, you understand, attempt to take pleasure in how lucky you’re.”

Photograph by Bryn Lennon – Formulation 1/Formulation 1 by way of Getty Pictures

The stress of life in F1

One of many hardest issues to do as knowledgeable athlete is to dam out the noise.

Sadly, life in F1 comes with a variety of noise. Not simply the trackside noise, however the countless hypothesis about job safety. With solely 20 seats accessible on the grid, and a whole lot upon a whole lot of drivers vying for these spots, there’s all the time stress to carry out.

So I requested Sargeant how laborious it’s to dam out that noise, and do the job at hand. Particularly throughout per week like this one, when he’s racing at house, which brings added calls for on his time.

“It’s robust,” began Sargeant.

“I’m fortunate, I bought to return for a few days earlier than I flew out to New York for a few days of media. However not solely that I’ve Wednesday off, which is big. So I’ll spend that with household and associates, and it is very important block some stuff out.”

Sargeant then famous that blocking out the noise was one space he might need struggled with as a rookie.

“I feel final yr I didn’t do the most effective job at instances of letting issues exterior of what I actually wanted to do, drain me an excessive amount of. In order that’s one thing I’m making an attempt to not let occur anymore,” described Sargeant. “However in fact, every thing takes a toll, it’s simply the best way life is.”

What got here subsequent was some life recommendation that I imagine anybody may gain advantage from.

“I feel the largest factor is discovering these moments to spend with household and associates. In case you want a second to your self, you simply wanna take it, calm down for an evening, watch some TV, no matter it could be, play some golf with associates at some point.

“These are the massive moments that may make a distinction to the way you’re feeling going right into a race.”

Racing at Exhausting Rock

Our dialog then turned to this weekend, and Sargeant’s second race at house. However earlier than we talked racing, I did observe up on a earlier dialog with the Williams driver. The group debuted “Workforce Torque” earlier this yr, a podcast hosted by Sargeant and Albon. Within the first episode Sargeant famous {that a} dream visitor could be Tom Brady.

May that occur on this week’s installment?

“Not this weekend,” responded Sargeant.

However concern not NFL followers, there might be a soccer visitor on this week’s present that Sargeant teased throughout our dialog.

“We do have a particular soccer participant on the pod this weekend. It’ll be me, my coach and … you’ll quickly discover out,” stated Sargeant, dealing with the teaser obligations of podcast internet hosting to perfection.

I then requested Sargeant what I wanted to do whereas down in Miami, as this weekend marks my first journey to South Seashore.

“Properly, you’re placing stress on me now,” began Sargeant. “I imply, there’s nice meals that’s for certain. I might advocate a restaurant referred to as Mila. In case you don’t wish to go down the meals route, you simply gotta get on the water in some way.”

If anybody at Mila is studying this, you will have your subsequent superstar endorser. And I’ll take a desk for one Sunday night time.

We then talked concerning the race itself, and I requested Sargeant to stroll me by a lap at Miami. The driving force then educated me not simply on the observe itself, however what you want from the automobile to achieve success within the Miami Grand Prix.

“I feel Miami is an fascinating observe. It’s very distinctive, it’s very totally different to a variety of tracks that we go to. You’ve bought extraordinarily various kinds of sectors by way of low pace, excessive pace, tight and twisty, lengthy and flowing,” started Sargeant.

“The primary sector being lengthy, flowing, very a lot a rhythm-based sector. You desire a automobile that’s gonna be complying over bumps, not unpredictable, one thing you could actually construct on. Whereas you take a look at Sector Two, it’s tight, twisty. You want a automobile that’s sharp, fast change of path, good on traction.

“So these two types form of contradict one another a bit of bit.

“So that you’re all the time looking for one of the simplest ways to make use of your instruments, but additionally [get] the arrange of the automobile to be as finest balanced as you may over these totally different types of corners. However typically a extremely enjoyable lap, a tough lap to get excellent.”

I then requested Sargeant concerning the finish of Sector Two, the twisty part from Flip 11 by Flip 16, which you’ll be able to see above. Is that this the hardest part of the Miami circuit?

“I feel once you take a look at, you understand, racing as an entire, there’s a variety of time on the desk in low pace corners and clearly having that tight, extraordinarily low pace part is necessary to get it collectively. However you do want a automobile that you simply’re snug with by there to have the ability to get every thing out of it.

“However yeah it’s a tough little part for certain, particularly when you will have wind thrown in there.”

As for the way he and Williams will fare down in Miami, Sargeant ended our dialog on a really optimistic, upbeat word.

“I’m not fully certain the place we’re gonna be efficiency based mostly, however like I stated, I feel this observe can probably swimsuit our automobile higher than a few the final ones we’ve been to. So a bit of little bit of optimism there for certain.

“We have to execute a clear weekend and see the place that leaves us.”