From Andretti’s Vision to Cadillac’s New Dawn
Back in the days when the application to become the 11th Formula One team on the grid was in the name of Andretti, the legend that is Mario stated the team would finally bring an American driver back to the world’s premier motor racing category. Due to Mario’s son, Michael Andretti, falling foul of a number of senior paddock figures with his outspoken claims, the new team was forced to rebrand as Cadillac, and Michael stepped down from his role.
Yet Mario remains a non-executive director of F1’s newest team, having been approved by General Motors, and his stated aim to bring an American driver to F1 remains front and centre. The individual selected to progress into F1 was top-tier IndyCar driver and Californian-born Colton Herta, who had years of experience racing in North America’s premier single-seater category, racking up 16 pole positions, 20 podiums, and 9 race wins.
Super Licence Realities and the F2 Struggle
Herta finished second in the IndyCar championship in 2024, which under the FIA’s super licence scheme meant he was awarded 30 of the 40 points required. However, the FIA is particularly stringent in how it treats non-FIA-affiliated racing series, meaning that in 2023 he received just 1 point for finishing the IndyCar season in 10th place, and in 2025 just four points for his 7th place finish.
Coming into 2026, Herta had 35 of the 40 points required to acquire his F1 super licence, meaning that by committing to a season in F2, a place in the final standings of P8 or higher would guarantee him the remaining 5 points he required.
Yet Herta’s F2 team, Hitech, have had a nightmare this season. Their other driver, Ritomo Miyata, who is in his third year of competition, sits further up the table, while Herta himself has languished down the standings. So any hopes of Herta claiming enough points from his F2 adventure to gain his F1 super licence this season are long gone.
Turning Point and Rejecting a Second Year in F2
Coming into the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Colton Herta announced he would not be competing for a second year in the F2 series in 2027. When asked if he would return to IndyCar next year, the Californian revealed his plans: “I think we’ll just have to wait and see,” he said of his future. “But I’m not interested in another year in Formula 2.”
So, it would seem the Andretti/Cadillac plan to bring one of IndyCar’s most exciting racers to F1 is over. But is it? Under FIA regulations, super licence qualifying points are based on a rolling three-year tally, so for 2027 Herta will drop his one point gained from the 2023 IndyCar season, leaving him with 34 points from the North American racing series.
Under FIA super licence rules, a driver completing at least 100km in an official FP1 session gains one point. Cadillac planned for four ‘young driver’ FP1 sessions to be completed by their Californian driver this year. In Barcelona and Hungary, the former youngest-winning IndyCar driver fulfilled the FIA’s criteria, although in Monza a mechanical issue meant he failed to complete the required distance.
Simulators, TPC, and the Path Forward
Speaking to Autosport, the Californian clarified his comments made prior to the Grand Prix in Baku. “I said, ‘I don’t have an interest [in another F2 season]. This year, I think if there was clear progression and whatnot, it would be more interesting to return, but there’s zero progression.”
Yet it appears his commitments with the Cadillac F1 Team have increased in recent weeks. “I’ve been doing a lot more with the F1 team now as far as sim stuff. I just did a TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] day on Monday, which was very strong. On the F1 sim and the TPC stuff, the pace has been really strong, but for whatever reason, it’s just not translating to F2.”
Herta appears to be committed to continuing his relationship with the Cadillac F1 team, although his exact racing role for next year is still being defined. “I don’t have anything for next year at the moment, but we’re discussing and getting through that as far as what the opportunities are for me within the team,” he revealed to Speedcafe.
“It all depends on what next year looks like,” he added. “My focus is still on getting to F1, and I still think I have a chance of that in these next two years. But I don’t know exactly; I have to sit back and see what the plan is for Cadillac for me. And once I know that, then I can make more decisions on maybe if I’m in Formula 1, if I’m not.”
The Final Stretch to the Grid
The likely route remaining to an official race seat for Colton Herta would be as a test and reserve driver for Cadillac F1, accumulating further FP1 mileage. Alternatively, he could look at other global categories to fill his time when not acting as a simulator or reserve driver for the American-owned team. He could also potentially target events like the Indianapolis 500, where extra entries are common during the month of May at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
However Herta’s plans finally crystallise, his recent comments suggesting his F1 dream was over have now been clarified. The surfer from California still has time to realise his ultimate goal and help Cadillac field an American-born driver on the Grand Prix grid.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
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