Michael Andretti in the McLaren MP4/8 during practice for the 1993 British Grand Prix. Photo by Martin Lee via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. (Credit links at the end of the content)
After completing Volume 1, US Formula 1 Drivers of the 1970s, we continue our journey with US Formula 1 Drivers Since the 1980s to Today. The first volume took considerable time to put together, covering the 12 American drivers who competed during the 1970s. In comparison, the number of US drivers who have competed in Formula 1 since the 1980s is smaller, allowing us to explore their careers and achievements in this second volume.
The list below also excludes Mario Andretti, whose career was covered in Volume 1. Although he continued racing in F1 during the early 1980s, we have already included him in our previous article. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other American drivers to remember and explore, each with their own story in F1 since 1980.
Our journey to bring forgotten F1 drivers back into the spotlight continues. Previously, we focused on drivers who competed in fewer than 30 Grands Prix before disappearing from the grid. To keep their stories alive and introduce more names to our readers, we are now exploring new ways to approach F1 history. Some articles will focus on drivers by nationality, while others will highlight interesting statistics and career records. Whatever the approach, our goal remains the same: to remember these drivers in a unique way and share their stories with motorsport fans.
American F1 Drivers Who Competed in the 1980s
During the 1980s, F1 entered a different era. The turbo era made things even more complicated for drivers looking for opportunities, as teams became more focused on improving their cars than finding new talent. There were fewer chances for drivers to prove themselves, while teams concentrated on catching up with their rivals through technical developments. As a result, F1 started to become more closed off, making it even harder for new drivers to get their chance.
Kevin Cogan: The Formula 1 Opportunity That Slipped Away
Kevin Cogan belongs among the drivers with short-lived F1 careers in 1980, as we mentioned in our previous articles. His first attempt came at the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, where he entered a privately run RAM Williams FW07. However, he failed to qualify for the race, leaving him without a Grand Prix start.
However, another opportunity arrived the following year when the Tyrrell team selected him for the 1981 United States GP at Long Beach.
Racing for a well-established team at his home race appeared to offer Cogan a chance to begin his F1 career.
Unfortunately, qualifying proved decisive, finishing 25th in qualifying, he missed the cut for the race by 0.071 seconds, that tiny margin made the difference between reaching the starting grid and watching the race from the sidelines.
Cogan didn’t receive another F1 opportunity, and his career continued in the American motorsport.
Eddie Cheever: America’s Most Experienced F1 Driver
Cheever made his F1 debut in the late 1970s, but we have included him in our list of US Formula 1 Drivers Since the 1980s to Today rather than in Volume 1. The reason is that he competed in only three Grands Prix during the 1970s, while most of his F1 career took place during the 1980s.
He drove for sevral teams, including Tyrrell, Ligier, Renault, Alfa Romeo, and Arrows.
One of the most important seasons came in 1983, when he joined Renault alongside Alain Prost, and the team became a major force in the turbo era, and was fighting at the front of the championship.
Cheever scored four podium finishes that season and finished seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, while Renault secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Although Cheever never won a Grand Prix, he remains among the drivers with the most podium finishes in Formula 1 without a race victory.
Danny Sullivan: A Short F1 Career Before Indy 500 Glory
Danny Sullivan arrived in F1 in 1983 after developing his reputation in American racing. He competed during a period when F1 was increasingly dominated by powerful turbocharged engines. But Tyrrell, continued to use a naturally aspirated Ford-Cosworth engine, leaving its drivers with a different challenge when competing against some of the better-funded teams.
Despite these limitations, his most notable result came at the 1983 Monaco GP, where he finished fifth, the result earned him two championship points under the scoring system used at the time.
Sullivan completed the season with Tyrrell but didn’t remain in F1 for another year, he returned to American racing, and he remains on the list of the drivers with less than 30 starts in F1 during 1980s.
His greatest achievement came in 1985, when he won the Indianapolis 500 after the famous spin that became known as the race’s defining moment; Sullivan recovered from the incident and went on to take victory, securing his place in American motorsport history.
American F1 Drivers Who Competed in the 1990s
The 1990s offered few opportunities for American drivers in Formula 1, with Michael Andretti being the only US driver to compete in the championship during that decade. Several IndyCar drivers tested Formula 1 cars during this period, but none of them secured a race seat, leaving American representation on the grid very limited.
Michael Andretti: A Difficult Year at McLaren
Michael Andretti arrived in F1 in 1993, the son of 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti, before making his move to Europe, he had already established himself as a leading driver in American open-wheel racing.
McLaren signed Andretti to partner Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers in F1 history; it was a demanding environment for a newcomer, particularly because Senna was already deeply familiar with the team.
Andretti’s transition was complicated by the differences between American racing and F1; he had to adapt to unfamiliar circuits, European race weekends, and the technical demands of the championship.
His results were mixed during the opening races of the season, he finished fifth in Spain and sixth in France, while McLaren that was wasn’t competitive enough to match Williams F1 team during the 1993 season.
Best result came at the Italian GP in 1993, he finished third behind Damon Hill and Jean Alesi, claiming the only podium of his F1 career.
However, Andretti’s time with McLaren ended after that race; he returned to the United States, where he continued his successful career in IndyCar.
American F1 Drivers Who Competed in the 2000s
Another difficult decade for American drivers continued in the 2000s, with few opportunities to compete in F1. Whether due to a lack of opportunities or less interest in making the move to Europe, several American drivers tested F1 cars, but the chance to secure a race seat never came. As a result, only one American driver competed in a Formula 1 Grand Prix during the entire decade.
Scott Speed: America’s Return to Formula 1
After Michael Andretti’s departure in 1993, Scott Speed eventually became the next American driver to compete in F1 when he joined Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006.
Toro Rosso was still developing as a team, and Speed faced the difficult task of competing in a car that rarely challenged the leading teams.
Scott Speed spent the 2006 season and part of 2007 with the team, but he struggled to score points.
He was replaced after the European GP in 2007 by Sebastian Vettel for the remainder of the season, and Speed’s career ended without a Grand Prix points finish.
Although his time in F1 was short, but he helped maintain American representation on the grid during a period when US drivers were rarely seen in F1. He later returned to American motorsport.
American F1 Drivers Who Competed in the 2010 and 2020s
The situation for American drivers remained much the same throughout the 2010s and 2020s. During the 2010s, Alexander Rossi was the only American to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix, while Logan Sargeant became the sole US driver on the grid during the 2020s so far. Although other American drivers took on testing and reserve roles, none secured another opportunity to race in Formula 1 during these decades.
Alexander Rossi: Five Grands Prix Before an Indianapolis 500 Victory
Rossi eventually became part of F1 as a reserve driver before receiving his opportunity with Manor Marussia in 2015, he made his debut in Singapore and competed in five races that season.
Driving for one of the least competitive teams on the grid meant that opportunities for strong results were limited; Rossi delivered a respectable performance at the 2015 United States GP, finishing 12th. And he also recorded a 14th-place finish in Singapore.
Despite showing promise, Rossi didn’t secure a full-time F1 seat for 2016; his European career didn’t continue in the championship, and he is one of the drivers with less F1 starts during 2010s, but he soon found a new opportunity in American open-wheel racing.
Rossi joined IndyCar and achieved one of the biggest victories of his career in his rookie season; in 2016, he won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, producing a memorable performance that included a fuel-saving strategy during the closing stages.
Logan Sargeant: America’s Most Recent Full-Time F1 Driver
Logan Sargeant became the latest American driver to compete full-time in F1 when he joined Williams for the 2023 season.
His arrival was significant because no American had held a full-time F1 seat since Scott Speed during 2000s.
Sargeant entered F1 at a time when interest in Formula 1 was growing in the United States, but the Williams driver faced a difficult challenge in his rookie season.
Williams also lacked the pace to challenge for points, placing more pressure on both Sargeant and his teammate Albon.
But he achieved an important milestone at the United States GP in 2023 in Austin, he initially finished 12th, but post-race disqualifications for Hamilton and Leclerc promoted him to 10th place; that result earned him one championship point, making him the first American driver to score an F1 point since Michael Andretti in 1993.
However, he struggled to maintain consistent results throughout his time with Williams.
Sargeant’s F1 career ended after less than two full seasons; his departure was another reminder of the intense demands placed on young drivers, especially those competing for teams with limited resources.
Explore our previous article, US Formula 1 Drivers of the 1970s (Vol. 1), and discover the American drivers who competed in F1 during that decade.
Featured Image Credit: Michael Andretti in the McLaren MP4/8 during practice for the 1993 British Grand Prix. Photo by Martin Lee via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
OUR LATEST ARTICLES ABOUT DRIVERS:
READ: 100+ Races Without a Win, Pole or Fastest Lap
READ: The Unseen Grid: The Shortest F1 Careers of 1988 and 1989
READ: Uncrowned Legends: F1’s Longest Careers Without a Podium
