Colton Herta Delays Formula One Dream; Re-Signs With Andretti Autosport IndyCar Through 2027

Colton Herta’s dream of competing in the Formula One World Championship remains just that – a dream – at least for the near future.

On Tuesday, the 22-year-old, seven-time NTT IndyCar Series race winner re-signed with Andretti Autosport to remain in the series through 2027. At this point, it is not clear if the contract contains an out clause if team owner Michael Andretti is eventually successful in creating his long-sought Andretti Formula One team.

Andretti’s plan for his Formula One team is to have Herta as one of the two drivers. If another Formula One team wanted Herta to drive for them in the future, provided he has a super license, they would likely have to get Andretti to grant them a release from Herta’s contract.

Either way, none of those scenarios are in place for 2023 or beyond.

So far, Andretti has met stiff resistance from many Formula One team principals who do not want to dilute the current share of F1 revenue from 10 teams to 11, especially from Austrian billionaire Toto Wolff, the team principal, and CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1.

At the very least, Herta has stability in terms of having a ride for the next five seasons.

Gainbridge will continue to sponsor the team through 2027. That means get used to seeing Herta in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda in the NTT IndyCar Series.

“I’m super happy and grateful for everything the entire Andretti and Gainbridge teams have done for me,” Herta said. “This is a huge step for me professionally and I’m so glad it can be with a top team like Andretti Autosport. We have big goals and a lot of work ahead of us, but I can’t be happier to do it with this team and represent Gainbridge.”

Herta was very impressive in a Formula One test for McLaren this past Summer and tried to land a Formula One ride but currently does not have enough points to get an FIA super license that is required to compete in Formula One.

“Colton Herta can drive a Formula One car, no question about it,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told me last month. “He can race in Formula One, no question.

“He was in our car and did a great job in testing. We could tell by the data. He made no mistakes. We had one of our simulator drivers who was in Formula One the previous day. He was on academy tires, which are different, but they can tell what he is doing in the car from the data and the engineers.

“His testing put him on the Formula One map.

“His lap time was very good. He would have been very high on the grid. You know he was in the zone. His feedback was very good and his fitness was very good. He took homework home, was very focused. He was very prepared.

“He can race in Formula One.”

In July, Herta tested a one-year old McLaren F1 car on the Portiamo circuit in Portugal as part of McLaren’s Test of Previous Cars (TPC) program.

“It was a lot of fun, a great two days getting acclimated to the car which is quite a bit different from what I’m used to driving,” Herta said of his test. “It’s a little bit of a different driving style, but the engineers were very helpful getting me up to speed.

“What a car. What a car to drive. It’s really special to have a first test in a Formula One car, but to have that test in a race winning Formula One car is even cooler.

“I have to thank Andreas Seidl (Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team) and Zak Brown (McLaren CEO) with letting me borrow their car.”

Brown also told me he thinks the entire super license system needs to be reviewed and changed.

“I think the whole licensing system needs reviewed,” Brown said. “I get the rules are what the rules are, and the rules should not be broken, but I question what the rules are now may not be the correct rules. Drivers like Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward are Formula One capable. If someone like Colton, who has won seven IndyCar races, isn’t eligible for a super license, then we need to review the super license system.

“Where IndyCar sits (in the system), that needs to change.

“The system was put in my place before my time. I don’t think Max Verstappen or Kimi Raikkonen would have been eligible for a super license and they are a couple of Formula One World Champions.”

Herta will join teammates Romain Grosjean (No. 28 DHL Honda), Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 AutoNationAN
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Honda) and Devlin DeFrancesco (No. 29 Andretti Steinbrenner Honda) on team owner Michael Andretti’s IndyCar team.

“We’re really pleased to confirm that Colton and Gainbridge will remain with Andretti Autosport for years to come,” Andretti. “Colton is a true talent in a race car and has natural determination that makes him want to win. He’s a strong competitor and a good teammate. I’m looking forward to seeing what Colton and Andretti can continue to achieve together.

“We’ve been really proud to represent Gainbridge, and to have given them their first racing victory with Colton in 2020 — and four more since. On and off the track we share a commitment to compete at the top level and look forward to seeing Colton return to victory lane in the yellow and black Gainbridge colors.”

Gainbridge is a Group 1001 company and has been a longtime supporter of both the Indianapolis 500 and Herta in IndyCar.

“Gainbridge is proud to continue its successful relationship with Andretti through this new contract extension with Colton. We have high hopes for both Colton and Gainbridge and believe they’re destined to become household names,” said Dan Towriss, CEO and President of Group 1001, the parent company of Gainbridge. “With his natural talent and winning spirit, Colton won’t stop until he changes the landscape of racing. He’s the perfect representative for Gainbridge, who is changing the landscape of financial services.”

Herta first joined Andretti in 2020 after a breakout rookie season in 2019 where he claimed — and retains — the title of youngest driver to win an IndyCar race.

The 2023 season will mark Herta’s fifth year of NTT IndyCar Series competition and marks the fifth year of sponsorship for Gainbridge, and a sixth season overall for Group 1001. Group 1001, through its Gainbridge brand, has partnered with Andretti since 2018 to bring awareness to the IndyCar Series while working towards its mission to inspire STEM learning and career exploration.

Together, Andretti, Herta and Gainbridge have captured six pole position starts and five IndyCar wins. He won two races with Harding-Steinbrenner Racing in 2019. Prior to his IndyCar debut, Herta had 65 Indy Lights race starts with Andretti.