Colton Herta’s F1 debut confirmed by Cadillac

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Colton Herta of United States and Hitech (4) looks on during the Round 1 Melbourne Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Albert Park Circuit on March 08, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dom Gibbons - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) | Formula 1 via Getty Images

Cadillac confirmed that American driver Colton Herta will drive in four Free Practice 1 sessions for the team during the 2026 Formula 1 season, starting at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June. That will be the first of four FP1 sessions the American driver will participate in this season.

Herta is also driving for Hitech TGR this season in Formula 2, his first time in the F1 feeder series. He scored points during his first race weekend when he finished seventh in the Feature Race at the Australian Grand Prix.

“Colton is a top talent, which he has not only proved by building an impressive resume in the NTT IndyCar Series before joining us, but also with a strong start to his Formula 2 season. Completing all four of our young driver FP1 sessions is a natural next step in his Test Driver role, and I look forward to seeing what he can bring in terms of development and focus,” said Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon in a statement from the team.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car for the first time,” said Herta. “I am looking forward to working closely with the team in a full Grand Prix environment and am fully focused on learning from every appearance. I hope I can contribute to the overall race weekend and help the team, Checo [Pérez] and Valtteri [Bottas] as much as possible.”

Herta signed on as a test driver for Cadillac ahead of the team’s inaugural F1 season, and has been linked to a future move to the series for years.

“Colton has really earned this opportunity,” said CEO Dan Towriss. “These sessions are a valuable opportunity for him to integrate with the team, develop his skills behind the wheel and off the track, and learn about a Grand Prix weekend from the inside.”