Patricio O’Ward believes that IndyCar colleague Colton Herta would “do great” in Formula 1 if he got on the grid next year.
Herta has emerged as a shocking name to take the last Alfa Romeo place next season, with its connections with Andretti Autosport potentially becoming a factor in Andretti’s proposed takeover of the Sauber group, which also includes Alfa Romeo’s F1 operation .
Mario Andretti himself admitted that with a view to a possible move to Alfa “some measures are in progress” if the Andretti Autosport team, which belongs to his son Michael, should take over the team from Hinwil.
O’Ward recently spoke about his desire to find a Formula 1 seat through his connections with McLaren in the future, but the Mexican believes his current IndyCar rival has all the right ingredients to make the move.
“He’s a very talented, very fast person and I think he won’t have a problem,” O’Ward told Motorsport.com.
“Of course, it’s not like he goes in and just smashes everyone. But I think that as a driver he has everything to be successful. And I think it will be.
“Maybe not from the first race. But the guy will get involved. He’ll fight up there if he gets the right car.
“I have no doubt. Not that it will be a fight, but everything has its learning path.
“But at the right time, he’ll be fine.”
Herta, 21, is the son of former IndyCar champion Bryan and rose to F4 and F3 junior categories in Europe before returning to the US in 2017 to compete at Indy Lights.
He finished fifth in the IndyCar overall standings this season after winning three races – including the last two races of the season – and sees increasing prospects of a possible entry into the Formula 1 racing series despite having a long-term contract with Andretti. signed into IndyCar earlier in the year.
Former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick also spoke of her desire to find Herta a place in Formula 1 as it would raise the profile of the Stateside sport and how fascinating it would be to see it compete against the current crop of Drivers.
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