Why F1 Eyes Are On Him
Cadillac wants into Formula 1 with Andretti. Herta is their most obvious North American star candidate. Signing him as a test driver plants their flag. It also forces the conversation about his ability to cross the Atlantic successfully. F1 drivers themselves seem to think people underestimate him. That credibility matters. When seasoned F1 racers nod at your adaptability, it carries more weight than a team press release ever could.
The Formula 2 Angle
The big rumor is Herta tagging a Formula 2 season on top of his Cadillac work. That matters because F2 builds racers for F1 the same way Moto2 feeds MotoGP. It runs on European tracks against stacked young fields. The paddock life matches F1’s rhythm. If Herta commits to it, he doesn’t just show he can race hard. He shows he can live the grind of back-to-back European weekends. That is the piece missing from his resume.
Why F1 Drivers Believe
F1 peers know adjusting is less about raw pace and more about racing style. IndyCar rewards aggression on ovals and strategy gambles with pit windows. F2 leans on tire management and brutal qualifying pace. This is the gap Herta has to close. F1 drivers believe his natural car control and feel for mixed conditions can bridge it fast. His IndyCar record shows he thrives in chaos. Europeans respect that, because chaos never leaves the F1 midfield.
Cadillac’s Hidden Play
Cadillac taking him in as a test driver is more than PR. They want to prove to the FIA and FOM they can grow a full pipeline of talent. Herta doubling in F2 makes him that proof. It signals that Andretti-Cadillac is not just parachuting into F1. They are investing in the process the European way. That will kill a lot of the skepticism aimed at the project’s supposed lack of “real pedigree.”
What This Means For Herta’s Future
If he nails the double program, Herta becomes the face of American Formula 1 credibility. He would silence the idea that U.S. drivers lack adaptability. One path has him stuck as a test driver with no seat to climb into. The other path has him in a Formula 1 cockpit by 2027 with Cadillac’s brand propping him up. Drivers around him clearly think the latter can happen if he puts the work in now.
Final Word
Herta has talent. That was never the question. The only doubts were about where that talent fits. With Cadillac backing and a possible F2 apprenticeship, the path into Formula 1 finally looks like more than speculation. If he listens to the advice of current F1 racers, he can make the jump smoother than anyone expected. Europe doesn’t look so far away anymore.