Andretti keen to hire 23-year-old compared to Max Verstappen if they enter Formula 1

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Andretti are eyeing a move for IndyCar driver Colton Herta as they continue their quest to join the F1 grid.

A report from AP News has shared more details about the American outfit’s attempts to join the grid.

Four teams attempted to join the most famous grid in motor racing this year, but three have already had their applications rejected.

Hitech, Rodin and LKYSUNZ have already had their attempts to enter Formula 1 rejected, leaving just one constructor remaining.

That, of course, is Andretti who are aiming to join the grid in the next couple of years.

There’s been no official confirmation that that’s the case with the current teams on the grid far from in agreement over their entry into the sport.

However, Andretti are already preparing for life in F1 and have identified Colton Herta as one driver they would like to bring into the sport.

It might not be an easy process getting onto the grid considering the opposition they face, however, they need to be ready to act as soon as they’re given the green light.

Andretti eye move for Herta if they enter F1

The report from AP suggests that in Andretti’s attempts to be a ‘true American team’, they want Herta to drive for them going forward.

Herta isn’t a household name outside of IndyCar right now but has some serious racing pedigree despite being just 23.

He’s the son of IndyCar and Champ Car driver Bryan Herta and already has 82 races in IndyCar under his belt.

In that time, he’s won seven times, recorded 12 podiums and started from pole position on 11 occasions.

As a junior, he wanted to compete in BRDC British F3 but was too young to compete in 2016.

Herta already drives for Andretti in IndyCar which would make a switch into F1 easy logistically, although he would require plenty of testing hours to get up to speed.

There’s a huge amount of faith in his ability though, with Mario Andretti once saying: “The kid is for real.

“I know what I’m talking about, I know when I see something. I said the same thing about Max (Verstappen) when I first saw him.

“I said the same thing about Sebastian Vettel when he won Monza with Toro Rosso and things like that — I’ve been around long enough to see these things and I haven’t been wrong yet!”

Formula 1 would benefit from more teams on the grid and another American team certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

The worries about the prize money being split between another constructor could easily be allayed by the additional interest generated by Andretti.

Fans ultimately want to see more racing and adding Andretti to the grid would certainly do that.

All that remains is to see whether they’re given the green light and what year they can get on track.