Colton Herta casts doubt over joining F1 with Cadillac

Colton Herta is widely seen as a front-runner to join Cadillac’s F1 team in 2026. Mario Andretti has already mentioned him as one of the preferred options in the market. Despite this, Herta is unsure about his prospects in Formula 1.

Herta “tired” of persistent F1 links

Since the start of his career, few have doubted Colton Herta’s speed. The young American became one of IndyCar’s most exciting prospects when he joined the series in 2019.

His most recent campaign for Andretti, finishing 2nd in the Championship, was confirmation of Herta’s potential.

Even before last season, there was plenty of demand for the youngster’s services. As Pierre Gasly prepared to leave VCARB (then AlphaTauri) in 2022, Red Bull were forced to find a replacement.

Initially, it was Colton Herta – rather than Nyck de Vries – who was their first choice. Unfortunately for both parties, a lack of Super License points prevented an F1 switch from happening.

Over recent weeks, Cadillac’s confirmed 2026 entry has re-ignited rumours about the American joining Formula 1.

His links to the Cadillac project (which still carries plenty of the foundations set by Andretti) make him an obvious choice. The US team have already established they want at least one American driver, another positive development for the 24-year-old.

However, Herta admits that links to Formula 1 come with mixed emotions:

“I’ve kind of been dragged around in this talk for, it feels like, half a decade now,” Motorsport Week quotes him as saying.

“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.

“It’s still not a for sure thing. All my friends and family are here in the U.S., and I don’t know anybody where I’m going.

“So it’s a big decision to make – if I have to make that decision.”

Alternatives being considered

These comments from Colton Herta are a reminder that nothing is confirmed regarding Cadillac’s 2026 line-up. On paper, despite his reservations, Herta is still one of the front-runners.

With that said, there are several unknowns in this year’s driver market. The likes of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, casualties from last year’s contract season, will be among those working to secure a Cadillac deal.

Bottas brings over a decade of F1 experience to the table – not to mention several race wins and podiums.

Meanwhile, Zhou’s strong finish to last year was a reminder that he is a dependable pair of hands when given competitive machinery.

His connections with Cadillac’s team principal, Graeme Lowdon, should also help his chances in negotiations ahead of 2026.

As the year develops, wild cards like Yuki Tsunoda could even make themselves available for the American team’s project. Because of this, Colton Herta is right to be cautious about what the future holds.

Still, it should be noted that – providing he secures the necessary Super License points – Herta will be near the top of Cadillac’s shortlist.