Herta Formula 1 dream hinges on elusive licence points

The 25-year-old has been a fixture in IndyCar since 2018, racing with Andretti Autosport, but despite his talent Herta has never met the 40-point threshold needed to qualify for Formula 1. A near miss with AlphaTauri in 2022 already showed how crucial the system is, and three years later, Herta finds himself in the same situation.

With American automotive big hitters Ford and Cadillac entering the sport in 2026, the race to get a race-winning American driver on the Formula 1 grid. Herta would be top of the shopping list to begin an F1 programme, as US-based drivers ready for the top flight are non-existent right now.

With only 31 points banked so far, Herta is mathematically unable to secure the necessary total this season. He sits sixth in the IndyCar standings, 74 points behind Christian Lundgaard in fourth, the minimum position that would guarantee eligibility. Even a maximum score in the Nashville finale would not allow Herta to bridge the gap.

That leaves the Californian looking further ahead. Sixth place this year would lift his Superlicence tally to 37, meaning an eighth-place finish in 2026 would finally give him the 40 points required for Formula 1 in 2027.

Speculation has mounted about a possible switch to Formula 2 to accelerate the process, but Herta dismissed the idea outright during the Milwaukee Mile weekend: “I’ve heard those rumours too, and they’re just rumours.”