until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Colton Herta has agreed a new contract with Andretti Autosport to race for the IndyCar team through the 2027 season.
Herta has taken seven wins and nine poles in his four-year IndyCar career, with the 22-year-old finishing seventh, third, fifth and 10th in the standings so far.
He has been in the news in 2022 most for his links to an F1 drive, which have come through two Andretti Autosport efforts to establish F1 entries – first through Sauber and then a solo effort which looks to have petered out – as well as with AlphaTauri in recent months.
A lack of a superlicence means Herta ultimately was not chosen for the Red Bull-backed seat that Nyck de Vries has now taken, and instead Herta’s focus appears to be on improving on his worst IndyCar season and a trying one for Andretti, too.
“I’m super happy and grateful for everything the entire Andretti and Gainbridge teams have done for me,” said Herta, mentioning the sponsor that will continue to back him in an extension of a relationship that started full-time in 2021.
“This is a huge step for me professionally and I’m so glad it can be with a top team like Andretti Autosport.
“We have big goals and a lot of work ahead of us, but I can’t be happier to do it with this team and represent Gainbridge.”
Andretti will be delighted to have kept Herta as it has lost Alexander Rossi, winner of the 2016 Indianapolis 500 – a race it hasn’t won as a team since then – to Arrow McLaren SP.
That means Herta – who would have been the star name in the IndyCar silly season for 2024 – is Andretti’s most experienced driver and should remain with the team for another five full seasons if he sees out his contract.
He’ll race alongside Romain Grosjean, who will start his third year in IndyCar, and sophomore drivers Devlin DeFrancesco plus new signing from AJ Foyt, Kyle Kirkwood.
“We’re really pleased to confirm that Colton and Gainbridge will remain with Andretti Autosport for years to come,” said the team’s chairman and CEO, Michael Andretti.
“Colton is a true talent in a race car and has natural determination that makes him want to win.
“He’s a strong competitor and a good team-mate.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what Colton and Andretti can continue to achieve together.”
Herta arguably should have been a title contender in 2021 but for some reliability issues and some mistakes by both team and driver.
He had been Andretti’s top driver by some margin in 2020 and 2021, but Rossi was the top scorer this season for a team that has not recorded an IndyCar title since 2012. He ended the campaign in ninth.
