Colton Herta will participate in four FP1 sessions with Cadillac during the 2026 season as he balances his F2 commitments. This opportunity marks a key step in Herta's journey towards a potential F1 debut.
Colton Herta is gearing up for a busy 2026, splitting his time between a rookie F2 season and driving duties with Cadillac's fresh F1 team. The American racer will make his debut in a Formula 1 practice session at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, one of four FP1 appearances he’s scheduled for this season.
Herta, 26, who transitioned from IndyCar to F2 this year, is not just filling in for Cadillac's regular drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, but is also getting a taste of what could be a future in Formula 1. After making his mark with points on his F2 debut with Hitech in Australia, Herta is eager to step into the F1 spotlight. "I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car for the first time," he said. "I hope to contribute to the race weekend and assist Checo [Sergio] and Valtteri as much as possible."
Graeme Lowdon, the team’s principal, is optimistic about Herta's involvement. He lauded Herta’s past achievements in IndyCar and his promising start in F2. "Completing all four of our young driver FP1 sessions is a natural next step in his test driver role," Lowdon remarked.
Cadillac's F1 CEO, Dan Towriss, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the value of these sessions for Herta’s development. "Colton has really earned this opportunity," Towriss said, noting the importance of integrating him with the team and refining his skills both on and off the track.
Herta's next outing will be at the Miami Grand Prix, a weekend that promises to be busy with F2 also on the schedule, followed by the Canadian F1 round. As he continues to juggle his commitments, Herta's journey is one to watch, as it might just be the prelude to a full-time F1 seat.