America would “go crazy” over Herta in F1

1978 F1 world champion Andretti, whose family team led Californian Herta to his fourth win in the IndyCar series in St. Petersburg on Sunday, speaks exclusively to Autosport The schedule is the perfect time for Herta to make the change.

“I think America is probably the only country on the planet where two Formula 1 races can really be held,” Andretti told Autosport.

“In all honesty, I think the F1 fan base in America is a bit of an understatement, but it needs to be spiced up – and the only thing really missing is an American driver.

“I’m pushing Colton like hell. You must remember that Colton went to England alone when he was 15.

“That has always been his goal [to get to F1] but he’s very quiet and modest, he’s not pushy, but I see a quality there – a Formula 1 quality.

“It’s been like that from the start – he’s a great qualifier and that’s really important. After the races he won at COTA and Laguna Seca, both races were won at a rough pace.

“No strategy, no fuel consumption, and he wins against the best that IndyCar has to offer – Scott Dixon and Will Power – they were there from the start and he didn’t put a wheel wrong, all pit stops were perfect.

Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport Honda

Photo by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images

“I’m really a fan of Colton, I’m in his pit during the races and he’s just very calm and collected. I love that. It adapts to everything, that’s a big key to everything.

“You hear people complain – ‘it’s too slippery, it’s too windy’ – he just keeps going, it’s the same for everyone, just find a damn way to do it!

“And he does that every time. I like it.”

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Andretti believes that placing America’s most exciting young open-wheel talent on a front-running team would mean America’s going to be “crazy about F1” – but questioned the current criteria for the Superlicence scoring system.

He also believes Herta, who became the youngest IndyCar race winner in 2019 at the age of 18, will have to move sooner rather than later.

“We need the American driver with a top team, not without a chance at the back,” added Andretti. “If you could get an American driver into Formula 1 who gets results, America would be crazy about Formula 1.

“Mercedes sells a lot of cars here, it’s a huge market. Imagine what you could do with him. It would also improve TV audience ratings. But it has to happen within a year or so or they’ll think he’s too old.

“He’s 21 so it’s a great time and I understand that there is a lack of testing and licensing restrictions. But I mean, this Russian kid [Nikita Mazepin] gets a super license and the guy up here can’t get one? Something is wrong here! “