Andretti says Herta is at the top of Cadillac’s F1 driver list

In line with racing legend and Cadillac advisor Mario Andretti, American IndyCar driver Colton Herta is nonetheless the odds-on favourite to be referred to as up for driving responsibility when the workforce hits the System 1 grid for the 2026 season. And he says the Normal-Motors-backed squad is seeking to finalize its driver roster quickly.

“Wanting again on the manner Colton has educated from the very starting of his younger profession — as , he began in System 3 and so forth with the likes of Lando Norris, and he is finished some F1 testing,” Andretti mentioned. “Zak Brown gave him check at Portimao in Portugal. It’s best to see the report that we bought from [team principal] Andrea Stella. And Andrea is a person that claims it like it’s — so once more, [Herta’s] an important candidate. And all of this needs to be confirmed, after all, however getting in, he is guess, in my view.”

The once-Andretti-branded eleventh workforce has by no means made a secret of desirous to pair an American driver with an skilled F1 veteran. As Andretti talked about, Herta has already tested an F1 car for McLaren at Portimao, again in 2022. In 2024, he ended his IndyCar season with Andretti Global as runner-up in the series, and can proceed his title hunt with the workforce for 2025.

“Some errors had been made final yr that value him a championship, and sadly that occurs,” Andretti advised Motorsport. “Typically you place an excessive amount of strain on your self and you then make that mistake. However whenever you take a look at the elements that had been there, you had the elements of a champion. However for simply a type of cases, he may have been champion. So, whenever you look again and assess all these issues, you have to really feel fairly good.”

When requested if he felt the 24-year-old confirmed a unique aspect to his sport in 2024 by being a extra constant frontrunner to match his pure flip of pace, Andretti mentioned. “Not solely that, however he is additionally very versatile. He is good in each space, just like the ovals, brief ovals, superspeedway. He is aggressive in every single place, so he is positively championship materials.

As for the timing of signing drivers, Andretti confirmed that the method is in progress. “Every part is on-going proper now. You concentrate on these issues on daily basis, and that is going to turn out to be official most likely mid-year,” he mentioned.

“We’re clearly taking a look at each side of each alternative that is there. It is clear that the goals are to have a minimum of one American driver after which one other skilled driver alongside, and begin like that.”

One in every of Herta’s subsequent hurdles: getting his FIA superlicense. Profitable the 2024 IndyCar season finale in Nashville raised his superlicense factors tally to 39, out of a required 40. Ending within the prime 5 this IndyCar season would get him throughout the road. However Herta may earn one level per System 1 FP1 session, so long as he completes 100km in every outing. With groups now being required to run 4 rookies per yr in apply classes, there could also be extra alternatives for Herta to log essential superlicense factors and get helpful seat time.