IndyCar has seen an influx of talent in recent years, creating a hyper-competitive environment where many capable drivers find themselves on the sidelines.
Unlike Formula 1, reserve drivers have historically not been a common fixture in the series, but this trend is changing. Prema Racing recently signed Romain Grosjean as its reserve, and now Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) has appointed Toby Sowery to a similar role.
However, with Devlin DeFrancesco’s return to the grid after a year away, one has to wonder—could the Canadian’s seat be at risk if his performances continue to underwhelm?
Sowery’s impressive record, but no full-time seat
After an eye-catching three-race stint with Dale Coyne Racing in 2024, Sowery seemed to have made a strong case for a full-time IndyCar seat.
The 28-year-old Brit managed to make up ground in each of his races, climbing from deep on the grid to finish 17th, 15th, and 13th.
Given the strength of his performances and his endurance racing success—including victories at the Dubai 24 Hours and the Abu Dhabi finale of the Asian Le Mans Series—his omission from the 2025 IndyCar grid is surprising.
Despite this setback, Sowery has secured a role with RLL as a reserve and development driver for select events in 2025. He will contribute to the team’s engineering programme, working with Honda’s simulator and assisting with hybrid deployment strategies.
Interestingly, Jüri Vips remains an RLL reserve driver as well, raising whether the team is keeping its options open.
A seat under threat?
RLL’s full-time 2025 lineup consists of Graham Rahal, rookie Louis Foster, and Devlin DeFrancesco, who returns after a year away from the series. While Foster, the reigning Indy NXT champion, is safe in his seat as he learns the ropes, DeFrancesco’s position is far more precarious.
During his two-year stint with Andretti Global, DeFrancesco failed to make a significant impact. He developed a reputation for inconsistent racecraft, most notably causing a multi-car crash at the 2023 St. Pete Grand Prix that sent his car airborne.
His results did little to silence critics—finishing 23rd and 22nd in the championship in his two seasons, with a best race result of 12th. Given these struggles, RLL’s decision to bring him back raised eyebrows across the paddock.
At the 2025 St. Pete season opener, DeFrancesco narrowly missed advancing in qualifying but still outpaced his teammates. In the race, he suffered a puncture that ruined his chances of a strong result, eventually finishing 22nd.
While misfortune played a role, it’s hard to ignore the fact that he hasn’t shown the pace or consistency to be a reliable presence in the midfield, let alone a frontrunner. If he continues to struggle, Sowery or Vips could be waiting in the wings for an opportunity.
Can the hybrid unit be an advantage?
While DeFrancesco has struggled with consistency in the past, one potential advantage for him in 2025 is his adaptation to IndyCar’s hybrid unit, which was introduced in July 2024. Despite his year away from the series, he appears to have adjusted quickly to the additional 60 horsepower boost, a feature that could help refine his racecraft.
“There’s a lot of button presses, especially when we were doing our race runs,” DeFrancesco explained. “It’s a good tool if you know how to use it correctly. You can really help your balance. It’s quite nice with the braking and the regen, which helps me address some of the weaknesses that I had previously.”
While the hybrid’s application varies depending on race conditions, DeFrancesco sees it as a way to maximise opportunities.
“In terms of qualifying, there’s three or four places where you’ll be using it. But, in terms of the race, it’s going to be dependent on what’s happening around you with other cars. You see someone struggling, and you have a run, then potentially you can use it to get by while he’s regening. It’s a good thing for the series.”
However, whether this new tool can help him overcome his past inconsistencies remains to be seen.
Graham Rahal defends DeFrancesco—but for how long?
Graham Rahal recently spoke in support of DeFrancesco, acknowledging the criticism but insisting that the Canadian is misunderstood. “People have this perception of Devlin that’s really actually quite wrong,” Rahal stated. He praised DeFrancesco’s willingness to learn, adding, “He came to me with a list of things from the very beginning. He said, ‘I want your help and I want to learn from you.’”
On that note, DeFrancesco did acknowledge his shortcomings, saying, “I know my past results haven’t been what I wanted, but I’ve worked hard over the last year to improve every aspect of my racecraft. I’m here to prove I belong.”
However, the question remains: how much patience will RLL have? While DeFrancesco’s work ethic may have impressed Rahal, results are what ultimately matter. If he fails to deliver, the presence of two reserve drivers, including one as promising as Sowery, makes it easier for RLL to make a change.
Foster’s steady ascent and Rahal’s leadership
In contrast, Louis Foster’s debut may have ended in disappointment with a lap-one crash at St. Pete, but the 2024 Indy NXT champion has considerable potential.
He has already won praise from Rahal for his approach to learning and adapting. Foster himself acknowledged Rahal’s mentorship, saying, “Graham has been the team dad, to be honest. He’s really great at bringing people together.”
While Foster is expected to be given time to develop, DeFrancesco does not have that luxury. His past inconsistencies mean he needs to prove himself quickly, or he risks being the first driver on the chopping block if RLL decides to make a mid-season change.
Sowery’s addition to RLL, alongside Prema Racing’s appointment of Romain Grosjean as its reserve, highlights a shift in IndyCar’s approach.
As the IndyCar Series grows more competitive, teams are increasingly recognising the value of having capable reserve drivers ready to step in. While it’s unclear if this trend will become the norm, it does put extra pressure on struggling full-time drivers—DeFrancesco included.
With talent like Sowery waiting in the wings, DeFrancesco cannot afford another lacklustre season. If his performance doesn’t improve soon, RLL may have an easy decision to make.
Feature Image Credit: Penske Entertainment | Travis Hinkle
