Opinions clearly divided about American Logan Sargeant's chances for success in F1 with Williams.
- Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing Claims Its First Extreme E Title
- Nico Hulkenberg Cautious to Keep F1 Dreams and Goals in Check with Haas
- What Daniel Ricciardo’s New F1 Deal Means for Red Bull
- Red Bull Racing Has a Place for Sebastian Vettel in F1
- Who Is American Logan Sargeant and How Did He Make It to F1 with Williams
We’re back this week with some of the best stories and reader comments, as well as my take on both. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my thoughts in the reader comments at the bottom of this mailbag.
This week, we look at all-time greats Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel and the prospects of American Logan Sargeant in Formula 1 and more.
Enjoy!
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing Claims Its First Extreme E Title
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing finished third by half a second in the Extreme E Series’ Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix Sunday to secure the season championship.
Extreme E
Readers Say:
• ban3350: He’s got another (F1) championship on the horizon. After a year racing that dog of a race car, Mercedes will certainly want to make up for this poor season. Max and his bosses, on the other hand, have another four years tops together with (I predict) one (more) championship during those four years—before the siren song of Ferrari comes calling. After that, Ferrari will somehow fail AGAIN to bring a championship to Maranello, as McLaren will get a ‘ship with Norris, George with Mercedes and someone else from who knows where. They (Max and Ferrari) will get disgusted with one another and that will be that.
• her1482: Might be the way LH celebrates championships going forward—as an owner, and not as a driver.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: While Lewis Hamilton is to be commended for having a championship-winning team, two things immediately come to my mind. First, there is no way he’s finished with Formula One. If anything, I believe Hammy will come back with a vengeance in 2023, provided Mercedes gets its act back together. Second, yes, his future definitely seems to have ownership written all over it once his driving days are over.
By winning in Extreme E, Hamilton is slowly building upward and onward, to the point where he will eventually be full- or (more likely) part-owner of an F1 team, be it Mercedes or another entity. One thing about Lewis: he is an extremely intelligent individual and does things with a mindset and gameplan that are typically well thought out—and in advance. I honestly see him being a F1 team figurehead within the next five years, once his driving days are over.
Nico Hulkenberg Cautious to Keep F1 Dreams and Goals in Check with Haas
Nico Hulkenberg is returning to Formula 1 on a full-time basis with Haas in 2023.
Getty Images Readers Say:
• justbob: A 35-year-old driver, basically trying to re-begin a career in F1. But unfortunately for Nico, once again his path to success in F1 is through a back marker team. Nico will be trying to prove himself racing for a team, who’s entire history has been competing not to be last in the championship rather than competing for wins. Again, at 35.
Even if Nico does well. How many top tier teams will want to begin a relationship with a veteran-aged driver who normally would be contemplating retirement, but instead has yet to prove himself as a Formula 1 top driver. Yes, Nico has had some decent runs in the past and I have always liked him. Unfortunately, to me. This seems like an exercise in futility. Although it will give Nico some relevance and a nice paycheck. Dreams of glory are probably nothing more than delusions of grandeur.
• FranklinCain: Driving for Haas takes a little bit of masochism, you have to like being beaten. Other than getting him a small payday, it will be better than not racing at ll. But he is better for Haas than Schumacher who had a propensity for crashing and taking others out of the race. Hulk is right to not have much hope at Haas.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: Nico missed F1 and didn’t want to put too much pressure upon himself if and when he returned. To me, driving for Haas is a perfect combination. Sure, there are expectations, but they’re nowhere near as high as if he would be driving for, say, Red Bull or Mercedes.
With Haas, Hulk can proceed at his own pace and every achievement he attains winds up being a bonus. Can he win the championship in 2023? Doubtful. But he certainly can bring Haas some increased credibility. And if the company throws more money into equipment and personnel, I would not be surprised to see Haas finish in the top 5 in the constructor’s championship.
What Daniel Ricciardo’s New F1 Deal Means for Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo is staying in Formula 1, sort of.
GETTY IMAGES
Readers Say:
• 2r64709: Think he would be better off going to Indy. Daniel has a long record of not making great decisions. Leaving Red Bull was not smart and did not work out for him. He disappeared at Renault and was shown up at McLaren by his co-driver and could never figure out how to drive the car – and said it was the cars fault …..? By his own words –
• justbob: Daniel is probably better off not racing in 2023. If I recall correctly, he is being paid millions by McLaren, not to race. Again, If I recall correctly. There is some kind of clause that If Daniel raced in 2023, it’s my understanding that it would be for free, as he would need to reimburse McLaren for his salary. Although I am not totally sure on the particulars of the McLaren contract, and could be wrong. In my opinion, for what it’s worth. Daniel should stay in shape both mentally and physically as he hones his skills assisting Red Bull in their 2023 campaign. It’s 2024 that should be his focus for a seat. If anything, I see the pressure now being on Checo. He now has a seven time proven winner for Red Bull waiting in the wings, if he doesn’t produce. History has proven that Red Bull does not think twice about driver changes if the results are not what they expect.
• FranklinCain: Daniel never reached his potential, is now in the twilight of career, and made one bad decision after another. For a driver with not that many wins, you would think he was a former world champion-he gets more face time in F1 and the Netflix series, than Lewis or Max. He quit RB because he just could not out drive Max, and that incident of him running into the back of Max on purpose, was the end. I agree with many who say he should have gone to Indy, because he would do well there, and he will not last long as a nobody on the side lines with RB-his ego and outgoing personality will not be able to take it.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: Ricciardo is missing out on a golden opportunity by not going to IndyCar, in my opinion. But there are very few teams that probably could afford his salary. That’s why he’s going to be a part-ambassador, part-PR guy for Red Bull in 2023. But there’s also a bit of brilliance to his logic. If something happens to one of the team’s drivers, Ricciardo would be ready to step right in, plus he’d already know the system and how the team formulates race strategy.
There is a wild card of sorts in all this: I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricciardo has a secret provision in his new contract with Red Bull that would allow him to come to Indianapolis and race in the Indy 500 in 2023. Competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing has long been one of his goals/dreams. If Red Bull gives him the approval—which, again, I sense has already been reached—I can easily see him driving in the 500, perhaps for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Red Bull Racing Has a Place for Sebastian Vettel in F1
Sebastian Vettel is walking away from Formula 1 … but for how long?
NurPhotoGetty Images
Readers Say:
• ban3350: Red Bull is a successful team and they could provide a good opportunity for Sebastian in a “front office” role. However, I’m not sure that team is a good fit for him. Red Bull served its purpose. He could make a good impact with a different team. He could play a Niki Lauda type role with McLaren or Aston Martin and bring in the right team and lift those programs up.
• roxie44: How would Vettel have time for his environmental crusading and his family? Would Vettel sell his soul for the chance to be part of a winning team?
• Raltbob: I think Seb would make a great asset to Red Bull in any capacity. It would be great for the sport to have him back
• justbob: I could see the merits of such a position for Seb. Most people need some kind of stimulation in their lives. As such I see Seb as being a little on the young side to just retire and do little more than vacation for years to come. We are all different in our thinking. But I would think that Seb probably doesn’t feel that he needs the money or a paycheck, per se. As such, I think the motivating factor would be the stimulation by using his knowledge and skills to advance a team in F1. All without the risks and demands of driving. But would the desire to again compete by driving, be too much for him?
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: Call me a Debby Downer, but I honestly do not see Vettel being happy in a team administration/ownership role. He’s too competitive of an individual to sit on the sidelines or on the pit box and not wish he was still behind the wheel. Sure, he retired on his own terms and has already mentioned several times that he wants to spend more time with his family as well as some of his non-racing interests, including activism.
There just isn’t room in his life to be a team administrator or part-owner at this point. Could that change in, say, maybe five years? Sure. But there’s also the possibility that the longer Vettel is out and away from the sport, the less his desire to potentially return in a non-driving role. That being said, I’m still convinced that we haven’t seen the last of him behind the wheel.
I think, much like Daniel Ricciardo, Vettel may give IndyCar racing a whirl, particularly in the Indianapolis 500. Even though he’s said he likely won’t go in that direction, if a compelling enough offer is presented to him, and he has a legitimate chance to do well—if not win—he’d be a fool not to take it. Remember how Fernando Alonso almost won in his first attempt at the Brickyard in 2017 before late-race mechanical issues sidelined him? And let’s not forget that former F1 pilot Marcus Ericsson won this year’s 500. That should be more than enough incentive to lure Vettel across the pond in 2023.
Who Is American Logan Sargeant and How Did He Make It to F1 with Williams
American Logan Sargeant will be racing for Williams in Formula 1 next season.
Mark ThompsonGetty Images
Readers Say:
• 2r64709: It’s about time an American driver showed up – long long overdue.
• 356scfan: Could be others if FIA super license regs did not undervalue IndyCar experience.
• aar5365: Since when does political party affiliation have any bearing on being an F1 driver? As far as coming from a wealthy family, Ayrton Senna came from a wealthy Brazilian family, and I don’t believe anyone is of the opinion that he didn’t belong in F1.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says:
JB Says: I’m going to come right out and say it, right from the start: Logan Sargeant is going to flop in F1, period. Even though he was the top performing rookie in F2 in 2022, his talent level for F1 remains highly suspect, at best. He is far below the talent level of guys in IndyCar who should be in F1, such as Colton Herta, Alex Palou or Pato O’Ward.
I’m still convinced one or more of those three will be in F1 by 2024. In the meantime, Sargeant is going to learn very quickly that money does not buy talent or success. He may be able to build the best team around him at Williams, but when all is said and done, the team’s success is going to be most dependent upon one individual alone: Sargeant himself.
Honestly, I give him one, maybe two seasons in F1, and then he’ll become the latest wannabe that never made it. Sure, that may sound cruel and crude, but he simply has not paid his dues—nor even come close to doing so. He’s taken a seat away from someone who likely deserved it more, not to mention possessed more talent. Could I ultimately be wrong about Sargeant? Yes, I could. But I don’t think I will be. He came along at the right time for Williams, which had a need that had to be filled and he was the best option—well, maybe one of several options—available at the time.
Keyword: Revved Up! Readers React to Week's Biggest Racing News, Dec. 1 Edition