Inside Line: Formula 1 stalemate for American drivers

Logan Sargeant is not the guy, that's for sure. At least not right now that he gets mauled by Alex Albon just about every race weekend, with few signs of any magic to look forward to. But then realistically who of the current American drivers anywhere in the world is the real deal and ready for F1?

No doubt, Colton Herta deserves a crack at F1. He is 23, he is among the fastest drivers in IndyCar and ticks most boxes, irrespective of the lopsided Super Licence rules that keep being bandied about when IndyCar drivers enter the F1 picture.

Also worthy of a shot is Josef Newgarden, but at 32, time is running out for him. Winning the Indy 500 in May this year is the 'cherry on the cake' of a career that could do with an F1 foray.

Another one to keep an eye on is F1 reject, 31-year-old Alexander Rossi. Experience gained in his relatively short five-start F1 career, which he had with Marussia in 2015, could be a ticket for at least a test with a team. While 23-year-old Kyle Kirkwood is also an outsider worth noting.

But beyond that, nada! In Spanish because the most likely Indycar driver to step up to F1 is actually a Spaniard. Namely, 26-year-old Alex Palou who currently leads the series standings by a massive margin. His dominance is not quite Max Verstappen-style in F1, but close enough for a one-make championship.

Indeed Palou has been linked with a McLaren F1 drive, but then who hasn't? Pato O'Ward has too. The 24-year-old Mexican is probably next in line for a shot at the big time.

Notably, another F1 refugee is doing extremely well Stateside, Marcus Ericcson took his career to another level with massive IndyCar success since he joined the series, after a disappointing career in the top flight. Also on the grid is Romain Grosjean, who can be a front-runner at times, but as he did in F1 - crashes far too much for one with so much experience. The Frenchman peeked a long time ago but can still mix it with some of IndyCar's finest.

Thus with those benchmarks, no surprise F1 teams are not rushing to find American talent. The pond is pretty small and they're hardly keeping up with the fastest swing fish in the water. In other words, are Herta, Newgarden, Rossi and/or Kirkwood worth the effort and investment? Are they more Logan or more Max?

Motorsport is well fed from massive pools of talent in Europe, Asia, Oceania and even South America. Federations run their national racing series' within the FIA parameters and its ladder to the top. From karting through to F4, F3, F2 and finally, for a few that make it all the way, a place on the F1 grid; and that's why IndyCar is an out-of-place rung, with nowhere to fit.

Hence young up-and-coming drivers bred on FIA-manned playing fields are plug-and-play. Familiar with most tracks where F1 goes in the various regions, aware of rules and regs while plugged into a very Eurocentric way of going racing. A system that is exported, well-received and effective in most places, barring the USA who do it their way.

Thus America-bred drivers are obviously disadvantaged here because their 'upbringing' in the States is far removed from what they will endure in Europe. From how the sport is officiated, to how teams are run and, most of all, living very far away from home for sustained periods of time.

While F1 booms in the USA, it is nothing now compared to what it will be should F1 do the right thing and include an 11th team - Andretti Global for that matter - and allow them to develop an American driver for F1, because IndyCar is still not the ideal place. Is it even the right place?

Having said that, be sure if Michael does get the nod for his F1 team with Cadillac, we know he will bring Herta on board and 'kill two birds with one stone' - an American team and a homegrown USA driver.

Short of that, how many F1 teams are seriously considering dropping one of their guys for an American?

Well, Red Bull is very keen to have an American in one of their four cars. And all the abovementioned USA drivers are possible candidates for the revamped team that will emerge from the current AlphaTauri project, which will have run its course at the end of this season.

Word is this will no longer be a B-Team or Junior team, minnows of the Red Bull Racing empire, but rather a standalone contender for the F1 Championship with their blessing. A team that will use as many Adrian Newey-designed bits on their cars that rules will permit. Look out for the RB19 in testing next year, disguised for the new team for serious intent.

Regarding drivers, if Yuki Tsunoda is as good as RBR think he is, there is a chance to prove the theory by promoting him to be Verstappen's teammate. And with that happening one could imagine that the 'new team' would be led by Daniel Ricciardo (if he finds his mojo with his imminent comeback) and an American teammate aka Herta, Newgarten, Rossi or Kirkwood.

Worth remembering, the Scott Speed in F1 project failed Red Bull almost two decades ago. Why would they give the next generation a shot? On merit why not Palou or O'Ward above them?

The reality for American drivers in IndyCar is that they must first convincingly and often beat the driving foreigners in their midst. Only then will the decision-making foreigners consider them for F1. Until then why bother?

A prediction in closing: Don't be surprised if 21-year-old Christian Lundgaard - who won his first IndyCar race this weekend in Toronto - beats them all in getting onto the F1 grid. But then he is from Denmark, not an American.