McLaren's Pato O'Ward has stated he would be “shocked” if Colton Herta does not find a seat on the F1 grid for the 2027 campaign.
Herta, a nine-time race-winner in the IndyCar Series, has joined Cadillac as a development driver and is making the switch to Formula 2 for the 2026 season.
The American driver has highlighted he sees it as his last potential route to race in F1, with Cadillac keen to field an American driver going forward.
Cadillac will enter its debut F1 campaign with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as its drivers, while Herta provides support from the sidelines while competing in F2.
O'Ward, who races for McLaren in IndyCar and who made an FP1 appearance last month in Mexico City, admitted he expects to see Herta on the F1 grid in the near future.
“He's very talented,” O’Ward told RACER. “He's been a great competitor in IndyCar, and I wish him the best.
“I think I'd be shocked to not see him in an F1 [seat] in 2027. I don't think he'd be doing this switch if that wasn't on the table for him.”
Herta departs the IndyCar grid after seven years, but had various successes in the category, which peaked in 2024 when he finished runner-up in the drivers' championship.
O'Ward asserted Herta has the backing of the entire IndyCar paddock with him as he seeks a new career direction.
“I'm super excited for him, and I really want him to do well, because he's going to be our IndyCar representation,” O'Ward detailed.
“I think he doesn't just have himself on board. I think he's definitely got a lot of guys that are pushing for him to do well outside of just being in F2 next year.
“We want him to make it to F1, and we want him to do well.”
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