Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta have careers deeply connected to Andretti, but the spotlight has often fallen more heavily on Herta. Now, however, it is Kirkwood who has achieved the more important milestone in the race towards Formula 1.
By finishing runner-up in the 2026 IndyCar Series, Kirkwood reached 44 FIA Super Licence points, comfortably clearing the 40-point threshold required to be eligible to race in F1. The Andretti Global driver can therefore obtain the credential needed to compete in the championship, putting him in a position to be considered by Cadillac, another team within the TWG Motorsports structure.
The FIA requires drivers to accumulate at least 40 points within the relevant three-year period to qualify for a Super Licence, alongside other requirements. IndyCar’s second-place finisher receives 30 points under the current system. Kirkwood also earned 10 points for finishing fourth in the 2025 championship and four for his seventh-place finish in 2024, taking his total to 44.
Kirkwood completed the 2026 season with second place at Laguna Seca, securing the championship runner-up position behind Álex Palou. The result capped a steady progression through IndyCar: seventh in 2024, fourth in 2025 and now second in 2026.
Kirkwood has never publicly made Formula 1 a major part of his career ambitions, and his path has been one of the most successful through the American open-wheel ladder. He became the first driver to win championships in USF2000, USF Pro 2000 and Indy NXT before reaching IndyCar, completing a progression that has now placed him within reach of F1.
That consistency contrasts sharply with Herta’s recent route towards Formula 1. The American had long been regarded as one of the most obvious candidates for a seat in F1, but his lack of sufficient Super Licence points eventually pushed him towards Europe.
In 2026, Herta moved to Formula 2 with Hitech while also taking on a test-driver role with Cadillac. He has made several FP1 appearances for the F1 team, including at the Italian GP, but his F2 campaign has been difficult. The official championship standings list him 17th with 26 points.
Herta’s move to F2 was partly motivated by the opportunity to earn more Super Licence points. The top three in F2 each receive 40 points under the FIA’s current system, while the series continues to provide a stronger route to the required total than IndyCar for several positions.
The irony is that IndyCar’s Super Licence allocation subsequently became more generous. Under the 2026 FIA table, the IndyCar champion receives 40 points, the runner-up 30 and the third-place finisher 25.
Herta’s situation is particularly relevant because his F1 connection is already official. Cadillac named him its first test driver in 2025, with the American joining the new F1 operation while remaining part of the wider TWG Motorsports family.
TWG Motorsports owns both Andretti Global and the Cadillac F1 team, creating an unusual situation in which Kirkwood now has the Super Licence required to race in F1 while Herta, who spent years being viewed as the more obvious American candidate, does not yet have enough points.
That does not mean Kirkwood is automatically in line for a Cadillac race seat. The team entered F1 in 2026 with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as its race drivers, while Herta’s current role is as a test driver. But Kirkwood’s eligibility changes the equation: TWG now has another American driver within its own IndyCar operation who is already qualified, on paper, to race in F1.
Kirkwood’s rise also reinforces a different lesson from Herta’s journey. Rather than leaving IndyCar to pursue a European route specifically designed to accumulate Super Licence points, Kirkwood stayed in the series, continued improving and steadily climbed the championship standings.
He has now reached the 40-point threshold without needing to cross the Atlantic — and, in doing so, has put himself ahead of Herta in one of the most important practical requirements for an F1 opportunity.
The IndyCar season is now over, with Kirkwood finishing second behind Palou after the Laguna Seca finale. The category will return in 2027 with the St. Petersburg Grand Prix from March 5-7, while the next Formula 2 round takes place in Madrid from September 11-13. GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue to follow the development of the American drivers connected to the F1 project.
FAQ
Does Kyle Kirkwood have enough points for an F1 Super Licence?
Yes. His 2026 IndyCar runner-up finish took Kirkwood to 44 Super Licence points across the relevant seasons, above the FIA’s 40-point requirement.
Could Kyle Kirkwood race for Cadillac in F1?
Kirkwood is now eligible for a Super Licence, but that does not mean Cadillac has offered him a race seat. The team currently has Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as its F1 drivers, while Kirkwood remains with Andretti in IndyCar.
Why doesn’t Colton Herta have an F1 Super Licence?
Herta entered Formula 2 in 2026 partly to build his Super Licence total. He currently has 26 F2 points and sits 17th in the championship, leaving him short of the 40-point threshold required by the FIA.
