LATEST: Why Andretti is the key to enabling further development in F1 in the United States

One thing unites Logan Sargeant, Andretti, and Haas Formula 1: they are all Americans. However, not every American fan base reacts to them in the same manner. Knowing why might be essential to Formula 1’s sustained expansion in the US.

When you ask American fans about the Americans in the paddock, they will undoubtedly mention Sargeant and the Haas team, but their allegiance isn’t very strong. American fans relished the notion of an American team when Haas first arrived, but the passion has faded. In the meantime, not many people would identify as Sargeant enthusiasts.

However, the introduction of Andretti Global and its potential connections to General Motors have sparked intense feelings in even the most casual American supporters. It all boils down to the Andretti name’s ties to America.

The Logan Sargeant conundrum

To put it plainly, American fans haven’t had much reason to cheer for Logan Sargeant, and that’s due as much to his professional trajectory as it is to his current performance.

Due to his avoidance of the American open-wheel ladder system, Sargeant’s racing career has mostly been limited to the European ladder program, which includes Formula Renault, F3, and F2. As a result, American motorsport fans have not been familiar with him. Even Alexander Rossi, who competed mostly abroad, had experience in American series racing before entering Formula One, and when he signed a contract with Caterham in 2012 as a test driver, he was promoted as an American.

Americans had difficulty following Sargeant’s pre-F1 career, and his F1 career hasn’t exactly been stellar. Apart from receiving a solitary point at the U.S. Grand Prix as a result of penalties, Sargeant hasn’t really captured anyone’s attention. He’ll have to improve as an intense on-track rival in order to do this.

Haas hardly counts as American

It’s possible that American fans of Gene Haas were either aware of him through his engagement in NASCAR or through his CNC machining tool company when Haas announced its plan to enter Formula 1.

But very quickly, with a multinational team basis and no American drivers, Haas F1 essentially established that it was an American team just in name. The car’s stars and stripes were only displayed during American events, which was the limit of the car’s interaction with American Formula One fans.

Moreover, motor racing enthusiasts who were acquainted with Gene Haas were probably also aware of the fact that he had pled guilty to criminal tax evasion, served 16 months in prison, and had his name displayed on a NASCAR vehicle. Motorsport enthusiasts have never really had a chance to get to know Gene Haas because there isn’t much additional information available. It has always been important to learn more about the individuals in charge of American motorsports programs.

Where does that leave Andretti?

It’s not necessary to be a die-hard motorsports enthusiast in America to be familiar with the Andretti name. Despite coming to the United States from Italy, Mario Andretti has gained recognition for his commitment to serving his homeland in F1 worldwide.

Furthermore, Mario’s frequent participation has won over multiple generations of petrolheads, and his family’s unwavering presence in all American motorsports has guaranteed Andretti’s fame.

However, the family embodies a great deal of American ideals. The tale of a young Mario Andretti who moved to Pennsylvania without knowing a word of English and went on to become one of the most well-known figures in the racing world appeals to our love of underdogs.

His career was characterized by flashes of pure genius brought about by perseverance through the darkest situations rather than by being a dominant force that routinely destroyed the opposition in American open-wheel racing or F1

Americans, particularly in sports, also adore dynasties. When you ask a fan of the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees about their passion for their respective teams, many will bring up bygone years and the creation of the team myth in the early 1900s.

Even non-sports fans can recognize Tom Brady’s face, and Detroit Lions supporters continue to talk enthusiastically about the team’s triumphs in the 1950s. Even if a name’s success is limited to the past, we nevertheless have a great deal of regard for it.

In contrast to Haas, Andretti Global’s potential is particularly special because of its commitment to its native nation. The Andretti team is honored to fly the American flag and select the top American drivers for its positions, whether they compete in Formula E, Extreme E, IndyCar, or Supercars. Haas, on the other hand, seems to wear the stars and stripes when it suits him best, like during US races.

“It’s like Haas realizes it can make money off all us suckers, like, three times a year, but those are the only three times I ever feel like it’s an American team,” a fan named Manny told me after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Like, they can say they’re American, but it also kind of feels like they’re trying to pretend they aren’t. Like they’re embarrassed to actually just be American.”

Regarding Logan Sargeant, some American magazines have tried to leverage his ethnicity as a springboard to develop gripping narratives and offer readers something to cheer for. The pleas for fans to rally around the lone American have been ineffective since Sargeant hasn’t made the most of his nationality or demonstrated a strong enough personality to carry him through his mediocre performances.

Though fans haven’t seen anything to get excited about thus far, perhaps a flattering Drive to Survive episode could improve his reputation in the United States.

Local fans, however, connect with Andretti considerably differently because of its long-standing commitment to maintaining its Americanness in the face of the global motorsport landscape.