Mario Andretti has labelled Colton Herta as “a great candidate” for one of the highly-coveted Cadillac Formula 1 race seats in 2026.
Herta currently races for Andretti in the IndyCar series, a team that is owned and operated by the newly created TWG Motorsports, a new division of TWG Global which took over the running of the Andretti Global suite of motorsport entries formerly run by Michael Andretti.
That suite of outfits includes the Cadillac F1 team, which has agreed terms with the commercial rights holder and the FIA to join the Grand Prix circuit from next season.
Andretti, 84, is serving as an advisor to the Cadillac F1 project with the American marque undoubtedly leaning on the 1978 Drivers’ Champion’s knowledge.
The American racing legend believes that Herta, 24, a star of the IndyCar scene is a prime candidate for the Cadillac F1 project.
“Looking back at the way Colton has trained from the very beginning of his young career — as you know, he started in Formula 3 and so on with the likes of Lando Norris, and he’s done some F1 testing,” Andretti told Motorsport.com.
“Zak Brown gave him a good test at Portimao in Portugal. You should see the report that we got from Andrea Stella. And Andrea is an individual that says it like it is — so again, he’s a great candidate.
“And all of this has to be proven, of course, but going in, he’s a good bet, in my opinion.”
Herta hit best form in 2024
Herta had his best season to date in the IndyCar series in 2024, finishing second in the Drivers’ standings, taking two race victories and his first on an oval course.
Andretti believes that without “some mistakes” Herta could well have become champion.
“Some mistakes were made last year that cost him a championship, and unfortunately that happens,” he said.
“Sometimes you put too much pressure on yourself and then you make that mistake.
“But when you look at the ingredients that were there, you had the ingredients of a champion. But for just one of those instances, he could have been champion.
“So, when you look back and assess all those things, you’ve got to feel pretty good.”
Cadillac F1 driver selection ‘ongoing’
With less than 12 months until Cadillac is on the F1 grid, time is ticking for the American outfit to select its driver line-up.
Experienced heads such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will no doubt be on the team’s radar, as will Zhou Guanyu, whose manager Graeme Lowdon is the Cadillac Team Principal.
Andretti revealed that the driver selection process is “ongoing” but confirmed that Cadillac has an objective to sign “at least one American driver”.
The 84-year-old explained: “You think about those things every day, and that’s going to become official probably mid-year.
“We are obviously looking at every aspect of every opportunity that’s there,” he added.
“It’s clear that the objectives are to have at least one American driver and then another experienced driver alongside, and start like that.”
Herta unfazed by F1 talk
Herta’s name has been floated around the F1 paddock before.
AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) tried to sign the American for the 2023 season but failed to clinch an exemption from the FIA to hand the Californian a super license amid his insufficient points.
As it stands, Herta has 32 of the 40 points required to obtain a super licence and finishing in the top five of this year’s IndyCar standings will get him over the line, but he’s indifferent to speculation linking him to the Cadillac F1 seat.
“I’ve kind of been dragged around in this talk for, it feels like, half a decade now,” Herta told select media including Motorsport Week last month.
“I’ve had the carrot in front of me for a while. I’m kind of tired of that being the case, and I just want to drive at this point and focus on IndyCar this year and focus on winning a championship, and if something arises out of that, I’d have to think about it.”
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