IndyCar race winner Colt🔜on Herta will drive McLaren'sꦇ 2021 challenger as part of a Formula 1 test role with the team.

The highly-rated American has starred in IndyCar in recent years, taking six wins as well as becoming the series' youngest-ever💮 winner in 2019.

Herta will have the opportunity to drive the car that won the 2021 Italian Grand Prix - 🌱the MCL35M - through F1's Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) allowance.

The 21-year-old curre🦩ntly drives for🔯 Andretti Autosport in IndyCar, with the American team eyeing an entry into F1 soon.

Andretti🦩 was in talks with Alfa Romeo over a potential takeover last year with Herta linked with an F1 drive if it went through.

Should Herta impress, a reunion with Lando Norris could be on the cards with the pair teaming up at Carlin ba💦ck in 2015 during their MSA Formula ca🍨mpaign.

Reflecting on the announcement, Herta said driving an 🤡F1 car has always been on his “racing bu꧟cket list”.

“I want to thank McLaren for the opportunity to get my first laps in a Formula 1 car, whi🐼ch has alౠways been on my racing bucket list,” he said. “This will be a great opportunity for me to gain some valuable experience in a new form of motorsport and learn from such an established team like McLaren F1.”

Team principal Andreas Seidl added: “Colton is a proven talent in IndyCar﷽ and we will beꦜ interested to see how he adapts to a Formula 1 car. 

𝐆“We believe this testing programme will provide him with valuable experience while demonstrating the benefit of expanding previous car testing to showcase promising drivers for the future.”