As General Motors prepare to enter F1 in 2026, they have already set a criteria for their potential drivers. Colton Herta is a leading contender to join GM/Cadillac’s entry, according to Mario Andretti – the team’s director of the board.
General Motors present Colton Herta with a second chance
Although Red Bull have resisted making driver changes at their main team, there have been no shortage of swaps at VCARB.
When Pierre Gasly announced his departure from the Faenza team in 2022, the Milton Keynes squad found themselves scrambling to find a replacement.
Eventually, it was Nyck de Vries who was chosen to drive alongside Yuki Tsunoda for the 2023 season.
However, the Dutchman was not their first option. Initially, Red Bull wanted to see what Colton Herta could do in F1 machinery.
There were advanced talks between Herta and Red Bull, with the young American seen as a talent worth giving an opportunity.
Unfortunately for the Andretti driver, a lack of Super Licence points meant he was unable to join the grid.
Of course, things have changed in the last two years. With GM/Cadillac (using Andretti’s infrastructure) set to become an F1 team in 2026, there is time for Herta to collect the necessary Super License points.
Andretti discusses Herta’s chances
Should he accomplish this, Mario Andretti makes clear that Herta could find himself in Formula 1:
“There’s another year to go on, so you have to keep an open mind,” he told GPBlog.
“But I am, yes. I’m a supporter of Colton because of his experience.
“I mean, he’s raced at a young age alongside Lando Norris, individuals like that who are obviously a prominent in Formula One now. And his experience is vast.
“He spent three years in Europe, he has a good feel for the circuits and so forth.
“He did a phenomenal test at Portimao in Portugal, it was last year, for McLaren. And it’s really interesting what he’s capable of in a Formula One car.”
Other drivers in the mix
At this stage, any number of drivers could complete GM’s driver line-up for 2026.
With Mario Andretti playing a key role in the team’s direction, Colton Herta is obviously in a very strong position.
Of course, this does not mean he is guaranteed a seat. Someone with F1 experience and an established track record would be a tremendous asset to a new team.
In this context, there are other drivers General Motors will be considering.
Many drivers (Ricciardo, Bottas, Magnussen, Zhou) who were casualties in this year’s driver market will see GM as a chance to get back on the F1 grid.
Because of this, even without completing a single lap, GM/Cadillac could have a multitude of attractive options heading into 2026.
