Formula 1: 5 possible replacements for Lewis Hamilton

Possible Lewis Hamilton replacements: No. 5 – Colton Herta

There have only been two American world champions in 72 seasons of Formula 1 racing: Phil Hill in 1961 and Mario Andretti in 1978. Mario’s son Michael ran just one disappointing season in Formula 1 but was one of the most successful IndyCar drivers ever. Since his retirement, he has grown Andretti Autosport into one of the most successful racing organizations ever.

During this past season, Andretti was in negotiations to buy Alfa Romeo until issues over control of the team scuttled the deal. Had they managed to buy their way into Formula 1, they almost certainly would have introduced the first American driver to the grid since Alexander Rossi in 2015.

Colton Herta, at 21, would be the second-youngest driver on next year’s Formula 1 grid – by six weeks to Yuki Tsunoda – but he has won six IndyCar races in his first three seasons. He is set to return to Andretti’s IndyCar program in 2022 alongside Formula 1 veterans Rossi and Romain Grosjean.

He should do his best to absorb whatever lessons those two have for him, because with U.S.-based fan support growing, it won’t be too long before there is pressure to get an American driver back into Formula 1.

Herta would be the obvious choice for Andretti, but he would be an unorthodox one for Mercedes, who have never employed an American driver. His hiring would also be very helpful in repairing some of the PR damage this year’s controversy and Mercedes’ reaction have caused, but it wouldn’t come without its major obstacles.

Herta lacks the Super License points to qualify him for a Formula 1 seat, so he would need intervention from the FIA to change the IndyCar point allotments or determine that “circumstances outside [his] control or reasons of force majeure” prevented him from earning the necessary 40 points.

It’s more likely that Herta will have to finish in third place or higher in the upcoming IndyCar season standings to get himself the Super License, but if Mercedes still think the FIA owe them a favor for what happened in Abu Dhabi, maybe they can lobby for a change or exemption.

They certainly haven’t been shy about that lately.