American IndyCar driver Colton Herta has remained notably guarded about his potential future in Formula 1, particularly concerning a rumored move to Cadillac's F1 team. Despite the ongoing speculation, he stopped short of outright denying a move to Formula 2 to secure the necessary superlicence points, acknowledging that the intense media attention "maybe even raises my stock a little."
Why it matters
The persistent rumors surrounding Herta highlight the ongoing interest in bringing American talent to Formula 1, even as Cadillac has already confirmed an experienced driver lineup for its 2026 F1 debut. His strategic ambiguity keeps his name in the F1 conversation.
The big picture
Herta, currently sitting sixth in the IndyCar driver's championship with one race remaining, is unable to accrue the 40 superlicence points required for an F1 seat this season. This means any potential F1 entry would be delayed until at least 2027. Meanwhile, Cadillac has announced Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will lead its 2026 F1 campaign, bringing a combined 26 seasons of experience to the new team.
The details
- Herta's Position: When pressed on his reported connection to F1 and a potential F2 stint, Herta offered little clarity, stating, "I don’t really have any comments for any of that stuff, to be honest." He reiterated that the ongoing chatter "makes people talk about me more. Maybe even raises my stock a little."
- Andretti/Cadillac Stance: Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, which backs Andretti Global and the Cadillac F1 team, maintained a similar tight-lipped approach regarding Herta. He also definitively shut down rumors linking former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to the General Motors-backed team, stating, "There have been no talks with Christian Horner. No plans to do that."
- Cadillac's Strategy: Despite the desire to leverage American popularity, Cadillac has opted for seasoned F1 drivers Pérez and Bottas for their initial 2026 entry, prioritizing immediate performance and experience.
What's next
With the 2026 F1 seats filled at Cadillac, Colton Herta will likely need to continue performing strongly in IndyCar and potentially pursue other avenues to secure the required superlicence points. His F1 aspirations appear to be on hold until at least the 2027 season.