IndyCar driver Colton Herta admitted being “kind of tired” about the carrot of a potential Formula 1 drive with a 2026 Cadillac F1 seat “not a for sure thing”.

The 24-year-old, who finished as runner-up in the IndyCar standings last year, has been linked with Formula 1 on multiple occasions in the past, and is believed to be one of the frontrunners to join Cadillac when they get set to arrive on the grid in 2026.

Colton Herta: Future F1 drive with Cadillac ‘not a for sure thing’

Herta is signed with the TWG-owned Andretti IndyCar team, which is also behind the Cadillac Formula 1 bid, and with reports claiming the team wishes to place an American driver in the car, Herta’s name has been brought up as a potential candidate.

When it was put to him about a potential drive in Formula 1, he wanted to remain focused on his IndyCar career at this point – with it not being a given that he would make the move to F1 if the opportunity arose.

“I’ve kind of been dragged around in this talk for, it feels like, half a decade now,” Herta told media, as per Motorsport Week.

“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.”

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Herta was previously linked with Red Bull’s junior team for the 2023 season, but did not have enough FIA Super Licence points to qualify to drive in Formula 1 – with the sport’s governing body refusing to grant him an exemption.

He currently sits on 39 points as of the end of the 2024 season, and with 40 required for a seat, the American would need to make it past that threshold if he is to qualify for a Formula 1 drive.

He is unfazed about that prospect, however, and if he were to be offered a seat, he will consider the implications – but if not, he said he will be in a good position with his current career.

“I guess the answer to that is I didn’t even know what the math was to get into — to get a super licence,” he said.

“If it happens, it happens, great, and then I’ll have a decision to make, if I’m still wanted.

“If it doesn’t happen, then poor me, I’m stuck racing IndyCars. I’ll be all right either way.”

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