News Summary
- Herta sits 19th in Formula 2 with 26 points and has ruled out remaining in the championship for another season.
- The American remains short of the 40 Super Licence points required to race in Formula 1.
- Andretti’s completed line-up and the scarcity of competitive vacancies complicate any potential IndyCar return.
Colton Herta may no longer be racing in IndyCar, but his name continues to influence conversations throughout the paddock.
The American left one of the championship’s most desirable seats to pursue his Formula 1 ambition through Cadillac and Formula 2. With that experiment producing little progress, however, the possibility of a return has become impossible for IndyCar teams to ignore.
Herta is currently 19th in the F2 standings with 26 points, while his best feature-race results have been three seventh places. More importantly, he has publicly stated that he has no interest in contesting another Formula 2 season.
That leaves him caught between two championships.
Herta’s Formula 1 route is closing
Herta presently holds 36 Super Licence points: 34 earned through IndyCar and two from Formula 1 practice appearances. He needs 40 to become eligible for a full-time F1 seat.
Cadillac could theoretically secure the remaining points by placing him in additional free-practice sessions. The complication is that points from his second place in the 2024 IndyCar championship will no longer count towards the licence calculation for 2027.
Unless Herta produces a dramatic F2 recovery or completes enough F1 practice mileage, his route onto the grid will become even narrower.
The situation looks particularly awkward because Kyle Kirkwood, the driver who remained with Andretti, now has enough points for a Super Licence after the FIA increased IndyCar’s allocation. Kirkwood has consequently moved ahead of Herta as a credible Cadillac option.
Andretti kept the door open—but could not wait forever
Andretti never completely abandoned Herta. The team explored entering a fourth car for him at the Indianapolis 500, but changes to the F2 calendar created a clash between the Canadian round and Indy’s biggest race.
A full-time return is even more difficult. Andretti has already committed to Will Power, Marcus Ericsson and Kirkwood for 2027, leaving no obvious vacancy for its former star.
That creates the strange scenario in which the organisation most closely associated with Herta may be unable to accommodate him.
The rest of the market is hardly more inviting. Chip Ganassi Racing has already selected Christian Lundgaard as Scott Dixon’s successor, while the other established front-running teams have largely completed their plans.
Herta is too important to ignore—and too expensive to place easily
Herta’s reported US$8 million annual salary presents another obstacle. Only a small number of IndyCar operations could justify that investment, particularly when competitive seats and charter arrangements are already settled.
Smaller teams may have openings, but joining one would mean accepting a very different competitive environment from the Andretti programme he left behind.
That is why Herta continues to haunt the driver market. His seven IndyCar victories and natural speed make him more attractive than a conventional returning driver. Yet his salary, expectations and connections to TWG mean that placing him requires considerably more than finding an empty cockpit.
His shadow will remain over the paddock for as long as the Cadillac route remains uncertain. Every available IndyCar seat will prompt the same question: is this where Herta returns?
For now, there is no convincing answer. The 2027 IndyCar season begins in St Petersburg from March 5–7, while Herta must first complete a deeply disappointing Formula 2 campaign.
Indy today: FAQ
Where will Scott Dixon race in IndyCar in 2027?
Scott Dixon will race for Arrow McLaren in 2027 after ending his long association with Chip Ganassi Racing. He will join Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist in the team’s full-time line-up.
Who will drive for Arrow McLaren in the 2027 IndyCar season?
Arrow McLaren’s full-time 2027 line-up consists of Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist. Ryan Hunter-Reay will also drive an additional entry in the Indianapolis 500.
Is Colton Herta returning to IndyCar in 2027?
No agreement has been announced. A return remains possible, but Andretti’s line-up is full and few competitive seats remain available.
