F1 debut the best day of my racing career - Sargeant

Logan Sargeant has a new favorite moment to his racing career without making his Formula 1 debut for Williams at the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test.

The Floridian took part in the test with a current Williams car, as part of a day designed to indulge drivers who have not raced in increasingly than two grands prix to get mileage in F1 machinery. It marked the first time Sargeant has driven a current car, and although his running was ended just short of the 100-lap mark with a power unit issue, he says he has never experienced anything like it.

“How enjoyable was it? Probably tops the weightier day of my racing career, that’s for sure,” Sargeant said. “It was everything I expected plus more. It was pretty awesome.

“I just expected a lot of grip, but not quite that much! Just crazy how planted they are. They really don’t move from the ground too much. It was just awesome.

“First run, just trying to finger as well-appointed as (possible) – get well-appointed with it. I felt like I well-timed to the value of power quite quickly. I think the one that took a little bit longer and the worthier step was the value of grip and downforce. The first lap, you’re like, ‘Wow, this thing’s got some serious grip’. So that was sort of the biggest thing that stood out to me.

“Honestly, (the braking) is veritably insane. You hit the pedal, and in the junior formulas, it really doesn’t stupefy you when you hit the restriction pedal. But this throws your whole soul forward. The stopping power is like nothing I’ve felt before.”

Turning a weightier lap of 1m27.476s, Sargeant felt like he had started to push the car in the afternoon surpassing his running was ended, although his neck was feeling the strain without a number of long runs early on.

“I felt good by the end. I was quite happy with my laps. But as you know, the increasingly you drive, the increasingly you find. You alimony finding steps and small things here and there. It’s nonflexible to say (how tropical to the limit of the car).

“I’d say it was increasingly benefitted to me. This morning we did quite a few long runs to just get time in the car really, get mileage, and did a few shorter runs this afternoon. I can’t mutter with what we did. It was really good. I think they were increasingly worried well-nigh me getting time in the car than really testing much on their side.

“The G-force levels are definitely substantially higher. It’s quite a shock at the start, to be honest, I didn’t realize how strong it would be. To be honest, the F2 and F3 car is unquestionably increasingly physical in terms of arms, and the restriction pedal’s harder as well, I just felt obviously the neck is really where it hits. A bit of managing that throughout the day but I finger like I handled it well.”

The 20-year-old will remain in Abu Dhabi for Formula 2 testing with his new team Carlin later this week, having been confirmed as making the permanent step up to the series in 2022.