Herta 'leading the pack' as Andretti Cadillac's top driver pick

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Michael Andretti says the future Andretti-Cadillac F1 team will run at least one American driver if it is granted an entry into F1, with Colton Herta at the top of the outfit's list of candidates.

Andretti Global's chances of joining motorsport's elite in the future were given a massive boost on Thursday with the news that it had formed a joint venture with General Motors to bring the latter's Cadillac brand to Formula 1.

In a media conference after Thursday's announcement, Michael Andretti revealed that the partnership would run its operations from its base in the US and from a secondary unit located in the UK that would assist with the tea's day-to-day running.

Andretti-Cadillac has also already sealed a conditional agreement with a third-party engine supplier, while a technical director had also been identified.

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"We’ve done a lot of hiring, we have a few people already working for us, we have hired the main engineers," Andretti explained.

"So yes, we’re very much down the road on all that. We have our technical director already hired, and we’ll announce that down the road as well."

On the driver front, Andretti Autosport's Colton Herta has been earmarked since the inception of the US outfit's project as a lead candidate to driver for the team.

Read also: Andretti Cadillac has third party F1 power unit agreement

On Thursday, Andretti confirmed that the IndyCar star was at the top of its list of potential racers.

"We definitely have a plan to have an American driver and I think you know who is leading the pack on that one," said the American team owner.

"With Colton, we do have him under contract in IndyCar, but we definitely want to make this at least an all-American effort to make sure we have an American driver in the seat."

Scott Speed was the last American driver to race full-time in F1 back in 2006-2007, while more recently Alex Rossi took part in five Grands Prix back in 2015.

"One of the things, to have an American manufacturer behind an American team with an American driver I think is going to be the biggest story of the year," said Andretti.

"It just happened naturally. We’re still going about it, still working to get the people together, to build a team.

"The great thing is GM has great resources and people already so that’ll help us get up and running even quicker, so we’re in a really good position right now."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.