One does not often see proven professional racers stepping back to junior formulae, yet that’s exactly what Colton Herta is doing for 2026.
Having signed with the Cadillac Formula 1 team as a test and development driver, Herta is in contention for a full-time drive in 2027. F1 has been his dream all along, and he’s putting his career on the line for it.
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“Everyone’s seen how close I’ve come before,” said the driver whom Andretti always had in mind as it strived to get an F1 entry – also someone who nearly got a 2023 AlphaTauri drive until superlicence points turned out to be an insurmountable obstacle – in the Off Track with Hinch and Rossi podcast.
“I think this is my best shot at getting to Formula 1.” Not just a shot – even a “lifeline”. That’s how much F1 matters to him.
Colton Herta, Andretti Global
“It goes without saying, the risk factor…” Herta admitted. “For me, it was an incredibly tough decision to make, because I know what I’m leaving behind. I’m leaving behind a great group of guys, an incredibly competitive championship where if it’s your day you can win, and we’ve seen that’s not always the case in Formula 1 – you need the car to compete.
“The easy thing would be to stay in IndyCar. That would be simple for me. I’d live a very similar life.
“It’s a risk, and it’s a dream of mine, so I thought, this is my last shot at it. I want to do it, I want to take that chance. For me, it’s really just about fighting for my dream.”
The thing is, Herta isn’t certain he’ll get a Cadillac F1 seat in 2027.
Unlike the AlphaTauri fiasco three years ago, superlicence points likely won’t be an issue – Herta already has 34 points after finishing second and seventh in the last two IndyCar seasons. All he needs is a top-eight result in F2, and one can assume that’s the least Cadillac expects of him.
What Herta needs is to show he’s got what it takes to succeed in F1 and prove he’s an upgrade over Sergio Perez or Valtteri Bottas – and he’s pretty confident.
Asked if the lack of guarantees regarding his F1 future made his decision scary, he said: “No, not for me.
“As a racing driver, you constantly are betting on yourself. For me, this is just one of those things where I’m betting on myself. I believe in myself, I believe that I’m fast enough to do it.
Colton Herta, Andretti Global
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