FIA Clears Colton Herta After Brazilian GP Red Flag Incident

The FIA stewards have concluded their review of an incident involving Cadillac test driver Colton Herta during the first practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix, deciding against any further action. Herta was under scrutiny for allegedly continuing to drive after red flags were signaled, but the stewards have opted to let the matter rest.

Herta, a former IndyCar driver, made his sixth FP1 appearance of the 2026 season at Interlagos, standing in for Sergio Perez. He finished the session in 20th place, with McLaren's Lando Norris leading the timesheets. Herta's time was 0.904 seconds off Valtteri Bottas, his Cadillac teammate, who finished 15th.

The incident occurred when Freddie Slater, filling in for Nico Hulkenberg at Audi, came to a halt on track, prompting a red flag. Onboard footage showed Herta passing the pit entry as the session was suspended, but he completed another lap before returning to the pits. After reviewing the footage, the stewards decided no further action was necessary.

In the background, Herta's prospects for a future with Cadillac are being discussed. With Valtteri Bottas's position for the 2027 season uncertain, Herta's name has surfaced as a potential candidate for the team. Herta moved to Formula 2 in 2026, eyeing a possible promotion to F1 with Cadillac.

Meanwhile, Sergio Perez has secured his spot with Cadillac until the end of 2029, leaving Bottas to await a decision on his future. Bottas, speaking in Mexico, mentioned that his future with Cadillac depends on upcoming discussions "with the big bosses in the USA."

Bottas has had a mixed 2026 season, with his best result being a 13th place finish in China. Herta, on the other hand, has had a challenging year in F2, managing to score points only five times, with his top finish being fifth in Barcelona. As Cadillac weighs its options, Herta remains a contender, alongside Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti, should the team decide to part ways with Bottas.