F1 | Colton Herta on missing F1 opportunity: “I’m not disappointed”
The American driver said that, while he would have liked to experience F1, he’s pleased to compete another season in Indycar, which he likes “more than any other series in the world.”
Andretti Autosport driver in the IndyCar championship, Colton Herta had in 2021 his best season in the category, winning three races and being in the championship contention up until the last rounds.
The American was also heavily linked with a potential switch to F1 for the upcoming season when Micheal Andretti made an offer to become the majority stakeholder of the Sauber group, and thus of the Alfa Romeo Racing team. However, negotiations suddenly ended because of "control issues", as per the owner of the American brand's words.
Herta was asked in the IndyCar pre-season press conference about his feelings on what could have happened, and if he was "disappointed" to have missed such a chance:
"No, I'd be lying if I said I don't want to do F1, and I want to do a lot of stuff in my career, but a lot of it also needs a certain timing," replied the youngest ever IndyCar race winner.
He also thinks that it's the right moment to pursue his interest in the older series because of his younger age, but he's not upset about racing another season in America as he thoroughly enjoy the championship.
"Formula One is one of those things where, if you're 28, you're not going to do it, unfortunately, that's just how it works."
"So, the time is right for me. If I got the opportunity, I'd have to do a good think about it, but, you know, I most likely would do it because I want to run in F1 at some point."
"That's not to say that I think that people forget I'm 21 years old, and I can come back in five years and still run fifteen years in Indycar, and be forty," he added with a laugh.
Herta would definitely take an F1 seat if the opportunity arised, but since it hasn't so far, with Andretti's deal not concluded, he will be trying again to compete for the title. But IndyCar isn't a second best option to him:
"I definitely, you know, want to give it a crack if I get the opportunity, but I'm definitely not disappointed at all in IndyCar, I like this series more than any series in the world, and I enjoy racing in it a lot."
"But yeah, there's a lot of stuff I'd like to try in my racing career outside of IndyCar also," he concluded.
