Why Logan Sargeant does not miss Formula 1 as he makes his WEC debut

The best experience since leaving F1, Sargeant says, has simply been getting back behind the wheel.

“Probably, I would say, getting back into it was very fun,” he explained. “Showing up to Indy, the IMSA race, and being extremely quick after not driving for a year was pretty fun.

“And then, of course, I think that that led to bigger things, so that was probably the best.”

Logan Sargeant, Proton Ford

Logan Sargeant, Proton Ford

Different driving style

Having driven two high-downforce cars in IndyCar and LMP2, Sargeant is now adapting to a machine with significantly less downforce: the GT3.

He admits the Mustang LMGT3 drives “very different” compared to what he has raced in recent years.

“It's a lot heavier, very different driving style, so I feel like it's coming together for me,” explained the former Williams driver. “It's still not where I want it to be, in terms of just natural way of driving, but nonetheless, it's still a good challenge.

“It's expanding my toolbox, that's for sure. I'm sure there's parts of what I'm doing this year in a GT3 car that I'll be able to apply next year, even though it's a very different car.”

Knowing it will be a learning process, Sargeant heads into the season without fixed expectations.

“I just want to go into each weekend,” he stressed. “Of course, I still need to learn the car to a certain extent, and it's not been the easiest car to drive this weekend, so still trying to get on top of that a little bit.

“But all we can do is execute the race as best we can, make sure they're clean, make sure we avoid any self-inflicted penalties or problems, and wherever that leaves us, it leaves us. Hopefully, hopefully we have the pace to be in a decent position.”

#88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant

#88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant

Positive signs in the simulator

Next year, Sargeant will move into the top class of the WEC with Ford’s Hypercar programme. There had been rumours he could already have entered the championship this year through an IDEC Sport deal linked to Genesis Magma Racing, but instead he is committed to Ford now and next season.

“I never signed anything with Genesis,” Sargeant stressed. “I've said many times, but I wanted to have that break, which is what we had spoken about earlier and after I took that time off, when I felt like driving again, I went into the LMP2 in IMSA and from there the talks started with Ford and that led to this.”

Several details of Ford’s Hypercar project are already known. The American manufacturer will race with an ORECA chassis and a naturally-aspirated 5.4-litre V8 engine, while Sargeant, Rockenfeller and Priaulx have already been confirmed as the first three drivers.

There are still some unknowns, however – even for Sargeant himself.

“I haven't seen any concepts, but I think the timeline is kind of dependent on when the car is ready, so that's still to be confirmed, so that means testing is to be confirmed. But hopefully we can get a decent amount done in the second part of the year,” he said.

Although the actual Hypercar is not yet complete, plenty of work is already taking place behind the scenes in the simulator.

“We’re already on the simulator, so that’s good,” Sargeant revealed. “Running through systems, working on all the variables that can be done before the car is ready.

“That's all underway, which is good and which is positive. And from the simulator, we're getting a good feeling, but ultimately, until we have a car for real that we can correlate to the sim, we will  [not] really know where we're at.”

Logan Sargeant, Proton

Logan Sargeant, Proton

Eyes on Le Mans

Now that he is spending a season in the slower GT class first, Sargeant expects to take valuable lessons from LMGT3 into Hypercar for his second year in the WEC.

“I'm sure there's stuff that I'm gonna be able to take from driving the GT3 car and apply it next year,” he said. “Even though it's a very different car, you can always learn something.

“Even if that's from pit stops to just perfecting driver changes to dealing with traffic to tyre management, whatever it may be, there's stuff you can take. And I've already started taking some of that in the IMSA races I've done. So, yeah, it’s all just expanding a toolbox to be ready for whatever comes next year.”

Although his immediate focus is on the 2026 season, Sargeant already knows the long-term target for Ford’s Hypercar programme.

“I think the main goal for everyone is to win Le Mans, that's for sure,” the American said. “Whether that happens immediately or a few years in, we'll see.”

“I think we have to be realistic that the first year might not be the easiest, coming into a new championship where other manufacturers have been in for a long time.

“So we're gonna hit the ground running as quick as we can and it's gonna be very important to be efficient, make the most of the time that we have leading up to next year and starting from a good place.”

#88 Proton Ford Mustang GT3: Logan Sargeant, Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato.

#88 Proton Ford Mustang GT3: Logan Sargeant, Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato.

Sargeant does not miss F1

With his WEC debut – and knowing he will be there for at least two years – the quieter period since leaving F1 is officially over. Does he miss the series?

No, I'm very desensitised - I guess [it] is the right word - to F1,” he admitted.

“I really don't care, to be honest. By the end of it, I wasn't interested to be there anymore after knowing the way that some of the teams work. So, yeah, I was just happy to move over to the endurance side of the sport, a more enjoyable atmosphere, a more laid-back atmosphere and one where everyone's collaboratively working towards the same goal.”

The WEC continues to attract more manufacturers, while more young drivers are also finding their way into the championship – in both LMGT3 and Hypercar. With so few seats available in F1, many talents are looking elsewhere, and WEC increasingly appears to be a serious option.

Does Sargeant see it that way too?

“Yeah, of course. In the end, I know how much pressure Formula 1 has, and if they feel like driving afterwards, that's obviously a decision they need to make, but it's definitely a great place to end up,” he refers to WEC. “It's a fantastic championship, fantastic manufacturers and a good place to go racing.”

Although he has not yet driven Ford’s LMDh in real life, Sargeant expects to enjoy Hypercar more than F1.

“Yeah, for sure. I think maybe not speaking from a driving perspective, but speaking from an atmosphere perspective, from an environment, I feel like I'm in a good place.

“Again, having two team-mates where you're all working towards the same thing, making compromises for each other, however that may be. It's just a good, different form of racing.”

Long future in WEC

#88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant

#88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3: Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, Logan Sargeant

His WEC career has only just begun, but Sargeant hopes to remain in the championship for many years.

“I hope so,” said the Ford driver when asked whether he sees himself racing there long term.

“For sure it's a great championship to compete in the highest class of endurance racing and probably the highest level endurance racing in the world. Being able to race at Le Mans in the highest class, that's a pleasure. So, for sure, it's something I want to do for a while,” he concluded.

Read Also:

Ford may delay full WEC Hypercar line-up decision until late 2026

Ford reveals plans for first test for its new WEC LMDh prototype

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