One of the biggest stories in motorsport heading into the 2025 calendar year comes from the world of Formula 1. Next season, the grid will expand by one team following Formula 1’s approval of the proposed Cadillac/GM operation.
This team grew out of an initial partnership between Cadillac and Andretti Motorsport, and Andretti remains involved in the new team, with new owners TWG Motorsport as a partner with General Motors, and with Mario Andretti as a board member of the new Cadillac F1 team. .
Of course, this means there will be two new driver positions on the grid for 2026, and speculation has already begun about which drivers might join the grid next season. When the initial partnership between Cadillac and Andretti was announced in January 2023, Michael Andretti had one name in mind: Colton Herta.
This makes sense, given Hertha’s current relationship with Andretti. Herta’s name has appeared in spots on the Formula 1 grid before, and with the upcoming Cadillac Formula 1 team heading to the grid next year, his name has been repeatedly mentioned as an option.
But addressing the media including SP Nationon Tuesday at IndyCar Content Days ahead of the 2025 IndyCar season, Herta made clear that his focus is on the IndyCar Championship.
How clear? He has yet to calculate the results he will need this season to secure his super licence, which has been a previous sticking point when it comes to getting onto the Formula 1 grid.
“I think the answer to that question is I didn’t even know what the math was to get the super licence, so if it happens, great, and then I’ll have a decision to make,” Herta said on Tuesday. “If I’m still wanted.
“I’ll be fine 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. However, more than anything else, it was the 2024 campaign that saw Herta and Andretti fill the missing piece – their ability on shorter ovals.
“Yes, I think the missing piece for us has always been kind of the short ovals, the mid-length ovals. “We’ve been good on the highways most of the time, but that was kind of the missing piece for us, especially when you look at the championship,” he said. Herta: “We improved a lot on those intermediate and shorter ovals, and that was a difference maker for us.
“And that fills me with a lot of confidence. I don’t think our problem was really the street courses, and for the most part, most of the road courses we were good at. But those ovals weren’t my best, and I think they’re starting to show they can Be one of my best for this coming year.
Hertha’s strong 2024 campaign has given them a clear target for the 2025 season.
Championship or bust.
“It really hurts to finish second. Although it’s nice to have that as my highest place, it’s really annoying to be that close and not do that,” Herta said. “You need to get that championship.” And this year is no different. This is what we are working for.”
Herta was asked about the 31-point gap with Palou, and where he and Andretti could have made up the gap.
The driver pointed to four specific moments.
“Yes, it’s pretty easy. There were four things last year: a crash at Indy, a crash at Detroit, missing the yellow light at the second Iowa race when Alex crashed, and the right front coming off at Milwaukee. “Those are the big things we’re kind of looking at “Herta began.
Herta continued: “Two of them are my problem, and two of them are the team’s problem.” “We’re trying to right that wrong, and that’s something we kind of chose. If one of these races goes differently, from the position I’m competing in, we have a really good chance of becoming champion.
“So we know we can do it.”
If he does capture the IndyCar championship, Herta could win that position in Formula 1.
But as he noted Tuesday, he’ll be fine either way.
