P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen receives ‘universal’ praise as IndyCar question posed
Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe recently praised Max Verstappen as a “universal talent,” despite initially stating there was no such thing. Hinchcliffe, now a member of Formula 1’s broadcast team, was discussing the potential of the new Cadillac F1 team entering the sport in 2026 and possibly signing an IndyCar driver. With the arrival of Cadillac offering a prime opportunity for an IndyCar driver to transition to F1, names like Colton Herta are being thrown around as potential candidates. Hinchcliffe believes that the American team will likely consider someone currently competing in the United States and pondered the challenges of shifting to F1. He highlighted the variability in driver performance across different cars, even within Formula 1 teams. Hinchcliffe suggested that three IndyCar drivers – Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, and Herta – possess qualities similar to Verstappen, such as exemplary mental fortitude while racing. Despite recognizing potential in some IndyCar drivers for F1, Hinchcliffe admitted that Verstappen’s talent extends across various disciplines, leading him to retract his previous statement about universal talent.
