Colton Herta Leads Cadillac's F1 Driver List: Mario Andretti Assures

American IndyCar sensation Colton Herta is still a priority for Cadillac's 2026 F1 first season, according to advisor Mario Andretti, who also hinted that an announcement might be made shortly. Andretti has confirmed that the 24-year-old driver tops the luxury automotive brand’s list for its debut Formula 1 season in 2026. The racing icon says the General Motors-sponsored team is finalizing its driver lineup, with an announcement to be made in the coming months.

Colton Herta’s Journey to F1

In late 2024, due to not earning enough points to receive the FIA super license, Herta was unable to make the switch from Red Bull and its sister team (then AlphaTauri) to Formula One.

"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 said. "Zak Brown gave him a good test at Portimao in Portugal. You should see the report that we got from [team principal] Andrea Stella. And Andrea is an individual that says it like it is—so again, [Herta'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."

Cadillac's Vision: An American and an Experienced Driver

The team, initially racing under the Andretti Global moniker, has long made public its desire to run an American driver with a more experienced F1 veteran. Herta, who did limited F1 testing for McLaren back in 2022 at Portimão, is considered the top material to meet this challenge.

In 2024, Herta concluded his IndyCar season as Andretti Global's championship runner-up and is scheduled to again pursue his championship quest in 2025. Andretti feels that last year, Herta was well on his way to securing the championship but, through a combination of misjudgments, allowed the title to slip through his fingers.

"Some mistakes were made last year that cost him a championship, and unfortunately that happens," Andretti told Motorsport. "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."

Colton Herta's Strengths: Versatility and Consistency

Upon being asked if Herta displayed a new maturity level in 2024 by racing consistently in the front rows, Andretti was astounded at his versatility and general driving skills.

"Not only that, but he's also very versatile. He's good in every area, like the ovals, short ovals, and superspeedways. He's competitive everywhere, so he's definitely championship material."

Decision Timeline and Superlicense Hurdles

Andretti confirmed that the driver selection process for Cadillac is in full motion. "Everything is ongoing right now. You think about those things every day, and that's going to become official probably mid-year," he said. "We are obviously looking at every aspect of every opportunity that's there. It's clear that the objectives are to have at least one American driver and then another experienced driver alongside, and start like that."

One of the main obstacles Herta has to overcome is obtaining his FIA super license. Taking the 2024 IndyCar season finale in Nashville briefly elevated his super license points total to 39—only one away from the minimum 40. But with the loss of his 2021 points, Herta now has 32.

Also read: Is Brad Pitt’s upcoming 'F1' movie inspired by real events or pure Hollywood fiction?

To be eligible, Herta will need to end in the top five of the 2025 IndyCar standings. Or he can pick up extra points by attending Formula 1 free practice sessions, so long as he covers at least 100 km per session. With F1 teams now mandated to have rookies drive in four FP1 sessions annually, Herta should stand to have numerous chances to bank the valuable points he will require to bring his F1 wish to life.