Mario Andretti has offered a look at Cadillac’s driver line-up plans (Image: Getty)
sensation Colton Herta has been highlighted as General Motors-Cadillac’s ‘priority’ target as they weigh up their line-up ahead of a 2026 entry onto the F1 grid.
The legendary American automotive brand was accepted as F1’s 11th team for 2026 onwards following a lengthy series of negotiations. The project started as an Andretti-branded team with a vision of racing in 2025, but more headway was made after the iconic name was dropped from the proposal.
After the news of Cadillac’s entry was confirmed, speculation immediately commenced regarding the team’s expected driver line-up. Given his connections to Andretti and GM, Herta’s name has been ever-present in those conversations, and now we have an official word on his prospects.
“From the beginning of this project, the team always looked at the prospect of Colton Herta to be one of the drivers,” Mario Andretti told . The 84-year-old has been appointed to the board of the Cadillac entry.
“As far as I know, this is something we had not discussed lately because there’s time, that still remains a priority. I’m sure that’s the direction he would like to go. He trained there.
“He raced alongside the likes of, just to say one, , who is obviously very prominent now with . And so, he is from that era, if you will, still, young and vibrant and ready to go.”
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Colton Herta was a target for Red Bull back in 2023 (Image: Getty)
The Cadillac target has some significant motorsport pedigree. The son of open-wheel racing star Bryan Herta, Colton is already a nine-time IndyCar race winner at the age of 24 and finished second in the driver standings in 2024 behind three-time series champion Alex Palou.
Herta could have been in F1 much sooner if not for a controversial string of events that ultimately denied him the opportunity to replace at AlphaTauri – now rebranded as – for the 2023 campaign.
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The 24-year-old was picked out as ’s ideal replacement for Alpine-bound Gasly, but due to the limited FIA Super License points offered for IndyCar results, Herta fell just short of the conditions. Despite requesting special dispensation from the sport’s governing body, the California-born racer did not get the news he wanted.
This decision sparked huge controversy within the motorsport community, and the FIA’s strong stance on the matter was questioned even further when the rules were altered in 2024 to allow 17-year-olds to once again compete in F1 sessions, providing they had demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in junior categories.