Cadillac Gives Colton Herta Four FP1 Slots for 2026 Season

Cadillac confirmed test driver Colton Herta will drive its 2026 Formula 1 car in four Free Practice 1 sessions, starting at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix in June. The 26‑year‑old, who splits his time between IndyCar and Hitech’s FIA F2 campaign, will be embedded in race weekends with regular drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

Why it matters:

• Shows Cadillac’s commitment to nurturing U.S. talent at Formula 1’s highest level, a key pillar of its brand expansion.
• Extra driver input during FP1 can accelerate development of the 2026 car, giving Perez and Bottas more data.

The details:

• Four FP1 slots are booked for Herta in 2026; the first will be at Barcelona, with the remaining three to be announced later.
• Herta, a 2022 IndyCar champion now racing for Hitech in FIA F2, already scored points in Melbourne, demonstrating his adaptability.
• Team Principal Graeme Lowdon and CEO Dan Towriss praised Herta’s seamless transition and said the sessions will be a learning platform for both driver and team.

What's next:

• Herta will debut in Barcelona, then likely return for another European round before the season’s end.
• He will also race in the F2 support event at Miami, giving him valuable track time ahead of his next FP1 outing.