"Last thing you want is guys fabricating like WWE" - When Colton Herta reflected on IndyCar versus NASCAR personalities

Colton Herta smartly gave his two cents on the IndyCar versus NASCAR personalities debate in April this year. He drew a WWE parallel to shine a light on why he and his fellow drivers radiate authenticity.

Ahead of the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Herta attended the pre-race interview in the media pen. During a conversation with Frontstretch reporter Michael Massie, the Andretti Global driver spoke briefly about the impact of Netflix's '100 Days to Indy' docuseries. When asked about the difference between the personalities of IndyCar and NASCAR in the context of NASCAR drivers getting flak for not having enough personality, Herta replied:

"I mean, there's a few guys. Like I am not that big of a personality, but the last thing you want is guys just fabricating, turning it into like the WWE, for entertainment purposes. So I think most of the guys are pretty genuine here, and you know, are pretty normal people, so maybe we don't have that big of personalities, but we're quick in race cars. So that should be enough." [0:50 onwards]

That weekend, Herta finished the race in second behind his teammate Kyle Kirkwood, who took his second consecutive Long Beach victory. IndyCar fans have often appreciated Colton Herta for his humble attitude and honest answers. As he gears up for what could be the most important season in his IndyCar career that paves the way for an F1 seat, he has found expert backing too.

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F1 champ Jenson Button endorses "extremely quick" Colton Herta for 2026 Cadillac F1 seat

Jenson Button at the 2024 F1 Grand Prix of Qatar - Source: Getty

The Cadillac F1 team, which will enter the sport in 2026 as the 11th team on the grid, has IndyCar legend Mario Andretti as its director. The four-time IndyCar champ has Colton Herta number one on his list for one seat. Moreover, Andretti's choice has been validated by 2009 F1 champ Jenson Button.

Button, who currently covers F1 for Sky Sports, backed Herta during a live broadcast and said (via Motorsportweek):

"He is extremely quick. Everything he gets into his quick. In IndyCar, he is extremely quick. He was my teammate when we raced at Daytona earlier this year. He just gets in, and he’s on it. He will be quick [in F1] from the word go. There is obviously a lot of learning, very different to IndyCar. He’s got the mindset."

However, Herta has yet to earn 40 points on his super license, which is an eligibility criterion in F1. Currently, he has 31. To cover the gap, the No. 26 driver needs to finish P4 (or higher) in the 2025 IndyCar standings, which would grant him 10 points. Alternatively, a fifth place, which would give him 8 points, could also suffice provided he earns an extra point by driving 100 kilometers in an F1 Free Practice session anytime in the year.

Colton Herta, however, isn't eyeing anything less than the championship, as he said after his breakthrough win at an oval in the 2024 season finale at Nashville. This year, he finished runner-up to Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, only 31 points short.