Ericsson believes Colton Herta is sufficiently skilled for F1.

      Colton Herta is capable of competing in Formula 1. This assertion comes from his IndyCar teammate at the Andretti team, ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson. The Cadillac team's participation in 2026, spearheaded by Andretti, has made it clear from the outset that Herta, 24, is the top contender to represent the U.S. in F1. "From the start, the team has viewed Colton as one of the primary drivers," confirmed 1978 world champion Mario Andretti.

      Veteran drivers, such as former Sauber pilot Ericsson, 34, could be a strong candidate for the second seat. "They’ve invited me to fly to England to test various simulators," the Swede shared with Viaplay. "I will offer my feedback to help them select the appropriate model for the entire organization, including Formula 1."

      Although Ericsson and Herta have frequently clashed both on and off the track in IndyCar, Ericsson believes his teammate possesses the talent to excel in F1. "Sometimes I think he doesn’t even realize how he manages to be so fast in certain corner sequences," he told Speed Street. "He has an innate feel for it. When he finds his rhythm, he can achieve things with a race car that very few can. He’s undoubtedly among the best teammates I've ever raced with."