These drivers have given up F1 dream: "It didn't work out and that's okay"

Two IndyCar drivers previously tipped as possible candidates for a Formula 1 seat admit they have more or less given up on their dream. Alex Palou and Colton Herta are now focusing entirely on the American racing class.

IndyCar talents see F1 dream fade away

Alex Palou, who dominantly won his second IndyCar title in three years last season, drove for McLaren in the first free practice for the 2022 US Grand Prix. However, their relationship ended after he decided to stay with his IndyCar team, Chip Ganassi Racing, and no longer pursue an F1 seat at McLaren.

Formula 1 is a dream Palou no longer pursues. "I tried. It didn’t really work out. That’s okay," he is quoted by Racefans.net. "We’ll try and get many championships if we can, and we’ll try and fight for as many championships and Indy 500s as possible."

Andretti may offer Herta opportunities

Andretti driver Colton Herta was originally linked to AlphaTauri's F1 seat that went to Nyck de Vries last year. Red Bull could not place him with the junior team because Herta had not accumulated enough points for his FIA super licence. His best hope of still reaching F1 now lies with his own Andretti team. To do so, however, the team must first be approved by the FOM.

The problem with the super licence remains for Herta, who in 2023 he says went through his worst season ever in IndyCar by not getting beyond 10th place in the standings. "I think it’s very time-sensitive," says the 23-year-old Herta. "I’m probably at the highest age that I could probably go over there with a team, maybe, besides Andretti."

"I don’t have anything to report on their side of things. I think their goal is still to get a Formula 1 team, and they’re still trying to. If that happens we’ll have to see what timeline that is and how old I’ll be and where I’m at in my life at that point. So for me, really, just the main focus right now is IndyCar, and we’ll see where it goes," Herta said.