Can America's top talents still reach F1?

Pato O’Ward tested a McLaren F1 car in Abu Dhabi this week as a reward for claiming his first victory for McLaren’s IndyCar team this year, while Logan Sargeant made his first appearance for Williams. But why aren’t more drivers from across the pond getting their shot? BEN EDWARDS asks why US F1 drivers remain a rarity

Max had a key win in early November. He started from pole position on a classic track, led from start to finish and won by just under three tenths of a second. Later that night, he learned that Verstappen had just won a crucial race in Mexico.

Max Esterson became the fourth American racer to win the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone that day. The 21st running of an intense junior single-seater contest came one week after the similarly competitive Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, where Esterson snatched the runners-up spot having started 13th. It was a significant achievement at the 50th Festival, where former F1 drivers Roberto Moreno and Jan Magnussen were also competing.