As 2025 begins, one of the biggest stories in all of motorsport comes from the world of Formula One. Next season, the grid will be expanded by one team after F1 approved a management proposal from Cadillac and General Motors.
The team was born out of an early partnership between Cadillac and Andretti Motorsports, with Andretti remaining involved with the new team as a GM partner with new owner TWG Motorsports, and with Mario Andretti as a new Cadillac F1 Team executive. .
Of course, this means there will be two new driver spots on the grid for 2026, and speculation has already begun as to who the two drivers who will be joining the grid next season will be. When the first Cadillac and Andretti partnership was announced in January 2023, Michael Andretti had one name in mind. I'm Colton Herta.
That makes sense given Hertha and Andretti's past relationship. Herta's name has been mentioned as a candidate for the F1 grid in the past, and his name is frequently mentioned as an option with the Cadillac F1 team taking the grid next year.
However, including dealing with the media, SB Nationon Tuesday at IndyCar Content Days ahead of the 2025 IndyCar season, Herta made it clear that his focus is on the IndyCar Championship.
How clear is it? He is yet to calculate what results he will need this season to secure his superlicence, which has been a sticking point in his bid to enter the F1 grid so far.
“I think the answer to that is I didn't even know what the math was to get a superlicense. So if that happens, that's great. And then I'll make a decision. Deaf,” Herta said Tuesday. “If I’m still wanted.
“It's okay either way.”
The 2024 IndyCar season was Herta's best in the series as he finished second in the drivers' championship, just 31 points behind Alex Palou. Herta won two races, one in Toronto and the other in the final race of the season in Nashville. But more than anything, the 2024 season was about Hertha and Andretti filling a gap in short oval ability.
“Well, I think the missing piece for us has always been things like short ovals and medium length ovals. We were good for the most part at the superspeedways, but especially If you look at the championship, that was kind of the missing piece for us,” Herta said. “We improved a lot on the medium ovals and short ovals, and that was kind of the difference maker for us.
“So, it gives me a lot of confidence. I think our problem wasn't the street courses, it was mostly the road courses, which we were very good at. But those ovals It wasn't my best and I think it's starting to show that it could be my best next year.”
Hertha's strong performance in 2024 has given them clear goals for the 2025 season.
Championship or bust?
“It's really disappointing to finish second. I'm happy that it's the best place for me, but it's really disappointing to come that close and not be able to do it,” Herta said. “We need to win championships and this year is no different. That's what we're working on.”
Hertha was asked about the 31-point gap to Palou and where he and Andretti can close the gap.
Driver cited four specific moments.
“Yes, it's that simple. We had four things happen last year: the crash in Indy, the crash in Detroit, Alex crashing in Race 2 at Iowa and missing the yellow, and the right front coming off in Milwaukee. So that's the big thing we're looking at,” Herta began.
“And two of them are my problems and two of them are the team's problems,” Herta continued. “We're trying to right that wrong, but it's our choice. Even if any of those races played out differently, from the position I'm running in, I think we're going to be champions.” There is a very high possibility that it will.
“So we know we can do it.”
If he does indeed win the IndyCar championship, Herta is very likely to earn that spot in F1.
But as he said Tuesday, it'll be fine either way.
