Sargeant ‘stepping away’ from racing, exits ELMS programme

Former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant has officially withdrawn from his European Le Mans Series (ELMS) programme with the Genesis-backed IDEC Sport team, signaling his decision to “step away from the sport to pursue other interests.”

The announcement came via a statement from the French outfit on Tuesday, confirming Sargeant’s departure and their intention to announce his replacement in the coming days.

The American driver had been slated to compete in one of IDEC’s ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2 cars, sharing the cockpit with three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick and 19-year-old French talent Mathys Jaubert.

A Change of Course for Sargeant

Sargeant’s withdrawal marks an unexpected turn in his career trajectory. His move to sportscar racing was widely viewed as a fresh opportunity following his Formula 1 stint with Williams, where he struggled to make a lasting impression.

During his F1 career, which began in 2023, the 24-year-old managed a single point across 37 races, earned with a 10th-place finish at his home race in Miami.

However, he was consistently outperformed by his teammate Alex Albon and eventually replaced mid-2024 by rookie Franco Colapinto due to his lack of results.

Joining IDEC Sport was seen as a logical step for Sargeant, given his prior sportscar experience.

In 2021, he competed in two ELMS rounds with TF Sport and participated in the Le Mans Cup, driving a Ferrari GT3 car.

His plans with IDEC were also considered a stepping stone to a potential seat in Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis' forthcoming LMDh programme, which will debut in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027.

IDEC Sport Responds to Sargeant’s Exit

IDEC Sport and its partners, while expressing disappointment, were supportive of Sargeant’s decision. The team released a statement saying:

“Following the decision of Logan Sargeant to step away from the sport to pursue other interests, IDEC SPORT and Genesis Magma Racing are taking note of his decision and will announce his substitute in the next few days. We wish Logan all the best in his future projects.”

Sargeant’s absence leaves IDEC Sport searching for a replacement ahead of the upcoming ELMS season.

The Genesis-backed team has aspirations of competing in the top tier of endurance racing, having already announced drivers Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani for its LMDh programme.

Sargeant’s Silence on Future Plans

Despite the announcement, Sargeant has not yet commented on his departure or his future aspirations.

The American had recently tested IDEC’s LMP2 car at Paul Ricard in November, gearing up for what seemed to be a fresh chapter in his racing career.

For now, Sargeant’s decision to step away leaves fans and the motorsport community speculating about what lies ahead for the driver.

Whether his future involves a return to racing or ventures outside of motorsport entirely remains to be seen.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.