Ferrari link key to Herta Haas F1 promotion

Colton Herta has declared that any future promotion to F1 would have to be Ferrari-backed should a team like Haas come calling.

Herta delivered a sensational performance in the second IndyCar race of the season on Sunday in St Petersburg, Florida, by leading 97 of the 100 laps to win by 2.493secs from two-time champion Josef Newgarden.

The 21-year-old Californian, who spent the 2016 season with Carlin driving in the British F3 championship and Euroformula Open championship, has revealed that F1 "people are definitely watching".

Speaking to Racer, Herta added: "I would love, if nothing else comes out of it, just to test a Formula 1 car. Because I’m sure even the bad cars feel pretty amazing to drive.”

If that team is American outfit Haas - as could be expected - a confident Herta has made clear that should he land a drive it would need to be with the support of Ferrari.

“Honestly, if I would get the call to go to Haas or something, it would be something I’d be interested in, but only if it was from a Ferrari-backed program, and then I had the opportunity to move up,” added Herta.

“I’m not going to go over there and sign a three-year deal just with Gene Haas, but I’d sign a deal with Ferrari, and if they put me in a car like that, I would drive it and try to get up to a top team.”

Herta's team boss Michael Andretti has made clear he will not hold his driver back should a top F1 team come calling.

“From a selfish standpoint, I’m hoping he drives for me for many, many, many years,” said Andretti. "But then again, I don’t want to stand in his way.

“If a team like Ferrari calls him, I’m not going to stand in his way on it. But if one of the teams in last or second-to-last position in the championship calls, then I might say, ‘Yeah, I’d want to keep you here'.

"I’d be doing him a favour by keeping him out of those teams. I know a lot of those guys over there now and I would encourage it if it’s a good situation.”

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