Last year, when it was not yet known who would be Valtteri Bottas’ future teammate in the Alfa Romeo team, Andretti Autosport , led by Michael Andretti, was in advanced discussions for a possible acquisition of the Sauber group, owner of the team. of Formula 1.
At that time, the son of Mario Andretti, F1 world champion in 1978, had already prepared the ground as he intended to place Colton Herta, son of former driver Bryan Herta , at the wheel of the future single-seater of the team led by Fred Vasseur .
However, negotiations between Sauber and Andretti ultimately fell through and the young driver had to settle for one more season in IndyCar. While the American enjoys some success on home soil, as evidenced by his six wins between 2019 and 2021, he is not insensitive to the charms of Formula 1.
“I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t like to race in F1. I want to do a lot of things in my career, but everything takes time. Obviously Formula 1 is one of them. If you’re 28, you probably won’t go, and that’s how it works, everything it is simple”.
“If I have the opportunity, it will be the right time for me. I would have to think about it, but most likely I will accept because I want to race in Formula 1 at some point.”
“I’m 21 years old, if I leave I can come back [to the US] in five years and continue racing for 15 more seasons in IndyCar , until I’m 40. I really want to try it if that big opportunity comes along. But being in IndyCar doesn’t disappoint either. I love this championship more than any other in the world, but other things I would like to try.”
That desire to race in various motorsport categories is something that Herta has already shown in the past. During the 2019 and 2020 seasons he raced in the US Endurance Championship, notably winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in his first appearance.
