Kevin Harvick has reignited debate over a persistent issue facing American hopefuls in Formula 1, openly questioning why drivers from the United States continue to struggle with reaching F1 through domestic systems. Speaking on his podcast with motorsport journalist Will Buxton, Kevin Harvick highlighted the obstacles his son encountered while racing in European karting, emphasizing that, despite years of American ambition, the path to Formula 1 remains fraught with barriers that are economic, political, and deeply systemic.
During the discussion, Kevin Harvick, a champion of grassroots racing, shared the journey of his 12-year-old son, Keelan, who competed in Italy’s WSK karting series. Although Keelan demonstrated significant potential, the Harvick family encountered the entrenched financial and political hurdles that long have dictated the European motorsport scene.
Harvick remarked, noting the extra layers of challenge that face Americans who aspire to advance within the global open-wheel ranks.
Will Buxton, though unable to provide a quick solution to Kevin Harvick’s concern, reinforced the notion that F1’s traditional European path remains stubbornly essential.
Buxton stated, underscoring the point that visibility and opportunity remain linked to overseas exposure. This observation is borne out by history; only a handful of American racers have ever carved out notable careers in Formula 1, usually after navigating years of immense difficulty competing against European peers.
Despite decades of effort, the list of successful American drivers in Formula 1 is surprisingly short. Phil Hill, still the only American-born driver to win a world championship in 1961, is joined by Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti, who managed race-winning campaigns, the latter also capturing the 1978 title. Since then, few have even managed a full-time F1 drive. Michael Andretti’s brief stint in 1993 and Alexander Rossi’s short run in 2015 both ended abruptly, underscoring the volatility and difficulty of the journey.
These hard facts have shaped the choices facing today’s young talent. Kevin Harvick explained that, after two years of go-karts and Legend cars, his son Keelan is now charting a different course—committing to his first full stock car season in Pro Late Models for 2025, signaling a shift away from the precarious open-wheel ladder. Keelan’s recent performances, such as a fifth-place finish at Cordele Motor Speedway, hint at a promising career in American racing, but also highlight the crossroads that so many U.S. drivers face.
Harvick’s concerns extend beyond his family, as he referenced fellow American karting standouts Brent Crews and Connor Zilisch. Despite excelling in European competitions, both drivers eventually pivoted to NASCAR, seeking a more attainable path to professional success.
Harvick pointed out, suggesting this is a systemic failure that robs both IndyCar and Formula 1 of promising U.S. talent.
This predicament is further illustrated by Logan Sargeant in 2024, the only American on the Formula 1 grid, whose struggles with Williams have attracted attention back home but little celebration. As Buxton observed, Formula 1’s reliance on superior engineering means even exceptional drivers cannot succeed without the right equipment.
he commented, noting that the realities of uncompetitive machines set even the brightest stars up for disappointment.
The announcement of Cadillac’s Andretti Global team aiming for a 2026 Formula 1 debut has sparked fresh hope for American prospects. Many now wonder if a stronger domestic presence will finally provide pathways for U.S. drivers to thrive at the sport’s highest level, or whether, as Kevin Harvick warns, structural disadvantages will persist. The coming years may answer these questions, as American racing’s brightest faces ever more critical choices about where their ambitions are likely to be realized.
