There have been just three American racing drivers in Formula 1 in the last thirty years. The current American is young Logan Sargeant, racing for the legendary Williams Racing team. It’s safe to say he’s, uh, struggling to make anything happen in the recalcitrant Williams in 2024, failing to score any points, and being forced to give up his car to teammate Alex Albon in Australia. For the upcoming British Grand Prix, the team will force further indignity upon the Floridian by making him race with a Union Jack livery just days after we celebrate American Independence.
Williams is calling this livery a “Staff Tribute” livery, as it will include the names of all 1,005 members of the Williams team this weekend. It makes sense for the team, as Williams is based in Grove, Oxfordshire, and the race this weekend takes place at the country’s legendary Silverstone track. But to put the lone American in a Union Jack for Friday’s practice 1 on July 5 just seems an extra level of cruel. We didn’t practice guerilla warfare and throw a bunch of tea in the ocean for nothing!
The FW46 raced by Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant at Silverstone will be transformed to fly the flag in thanks and appreciation to everyone at the team’s Grove HQ, New York and London bases and at races who are working tirelessly on our mission to return the team to the front of the grid.
Their names have been intricately woven into the red, white and blue engine cover design which crowns a week of special events and activities for Williams’ home race. The team have repeatedly demonstrated exceptional teamwork and resilience under pressure this season, and the livery pays tribute to the enormous human effort it takes to race in Formula 1.
This country declared independence from monarchical rule on July 4, 1776, and dammit we haven’t had a king for 247 years. We might be on the verge of ending that streak, but that’s no reason to put that poncy flag on our American kid’s back in front of the whole motorsport world. We’ll get you back for this Williams. You’ll see. When you come to Texas for the U.S. Grand Prix, we’ll make you eat barbecue for a week or something. Yeah, that’ll show you!