The American Absence on the F1 Grid
Formula One is thriving in the United States, yet there is no US-born driver competing on the grid. The most recent to do so was the pay-to-drive Logan Sargeant for Williams, who competed unsuccessfully between 2023 and 2024.
Logan competed in 37 Grands Prix with a best finish of P10 at his home race in Austin, Texas, scoring a single championship point across his entire F1 career. Prior to Sargeant, the previous US competitor was Alexander Rossi, who raced in 5 Grands Prix for Manor Marussia, serving as the last American in F1 prior to Sargeant’s debut.
Rossi’s European Stint and Indy 500 Glory
Rossi’s junior racing career was in Europe, which saw him compete in GP3 (now F3) and GP2 (now F2), where he won several races. He was promoted as reserve driver for Caterham F1 in 2012 and completed a number of FP1 sessions for the team. Following the sale of the outfit to Swiss investors, Rossi left to join Manor Marussia.
It was reported that Rossi was on a target list for Gene Haas’s newly created Formula One team, but nothing came of it, so he returned to the USA and was signed by top racing outfit Andretti Racing. In his rookie year at the fastest race on earth—the Indy 500—he started down in P11, but an incredible drive saw him take the checkered flag ahead of the field.
Historical Precedents: Speed and Andretti
Prior to Rossi, we have to go back to 2006 for the next US driver to compete in F1. The ironically named Scott Speed competed for the newly renamed Toro Rosso outfit and famously came to blows with team boss Franz Tost the following season, which saw Sebastian Vettel given his first shot in an F1 car. The rest is history.
Before Scott Speed, it was Michael Andretti way back in 1993 who represented the USA, although his single-year stint for McLaren was underwhelming. During their application process to join F1, the Cadillac team stated they were keen to bring a US-born driver to the sport. Poster boy and California-born Colton Herta was their target, but under the FIA rules which govern who gets an F1 super license—despite finishing second in the IndyCar championship—Herta was short of points.
The Super License Hurdle and the F2 Gambit
His tally was 34 points coming into this season, the result of an accumulation of points across three seasons of IndyCar racing. The requirement is 40 points from three rolling seasons, so Cadillac decided to place Colton Herta in F2 with Hitech, which recently bid to become the 11th F1 team. The initial target was for the Californian driver to finish 8th or better in the F2 championship, which would secure him the additional points he needs for his F1 super license.
Yet Hitech are having a poor year, with their best-placed driver, Ritomo Miyata, down in P12, whilst Colton Herta languishes all the way down in P19. Drivers can gain super license points should they compete without receiving any penalty points from the stewards, yet at round one in Australia, Herta was hit with these due to a safety car infringement.
Practice Sessions and Fading Opportunities
Drivers can also gain a point from competing in an F1 FP1 session where they rack up at least 100km. Herta did this successfully in Barcelona and in Budapest, but his next outing in Monza saw the Cadillac car suffer mechanical issues, bringing his session to an early end.
The Californian driver is set for another outing at his home Grand Prix at COTA in Austin, Texas, but Cadillac have not revealed whether he will complete another three FP1s beyond then, which would be required to reach the 40 points required for his F1 super license.
With the season likely to be reduced to just 22 race weekends due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Herta wouldhave to complete FP1 sessions in Mexico, Brazil, and Las Vegas, and probably along with the season finale yet to be announced, to reach his goal of an F1 super license—and it appears Cadillac are not committed to giving him this opportunity.
Moving On From F1
Now, the ex-IndyCar driver has revealed he will not compete in another F2 season next year to ensure he makes the F1 grade. His future is likely to see him return to IndyCar, although as yet he has not been signed by one of the few teams yet to announce their 2027 driver lineup.
When asked by an F1 insider about his future racing plans, Herta was noncommittal, stating: “I think we’ll have to wait and see. But I have no interest in another year of Formula 2.” Despite this, Herta revealed he is a fan of the F2 racing series, adding, “I’ll definitely watch it; I’ll always enjoy following Formula 2 as a racing series,” he said.
“I think I’ve watched Formula 2 races for the past ten years or so, and I’ll continue to do so. I really like the racing style and the races themselves, and I have great respect for the drivers who compete here because I know what they’re capable of.
“While I already knew that, now I know it even more from my own experience, and I’m aware of the level at which everyone is operating. So, of course, I’m interested in the car, and I’ll see what it looks like, what its downforce figures are, and how well it’s suited for racing next year. I’ll definitely keep following it,” Herta concluded.
Questions Over the FIA System
So the latest US driver who has shown interest in F1 is unlikely to make the grade, which again brings into question the FIA’s ranking of the US’s premier single-seater racing series. Colton Herta has claimed 16 pole positions in IndyCar, along with 9 race wins and 20 podiums, which should easily see him qualify for F1 ahead of drivers like Logan Sargeant.
It could also be that Herta sees the Cadillac F1 project is not going to plan either, with experienced drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas failing to score a point between them. The only top team with a vacancy currently is Chip Ganassi Racing, although smaller teams such as Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing, and A.J. Foyt Racing would presumably snap the talented single-seater racing driver up in a flash.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
