Colton Herta reveals 'weird' pedal habit ahead of Cadillac F1 debut

Colton Herta admits he has one “weird” habit in the cockpit: he pushes the pedals toe-first, lifting his heel rather than keeping it planted. That preference means he doesn't use a heel rest, a common feature in racing cars.

Why it matters:

Driver ergonomics can make or break lap time, and Herta's unusual technique could influence how Cadillac sets up his MAC-26 for his FP1 debut at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Understanding such small preferences is crucial for a new team integrating a driver from a different racing background.

The details:

• Herta revealed the habit on the Beyond the Grid podcast, speaking from Cadillac's Silverstone base after a seat fit.
• “When I push the pedal, instead of going with the heel planted, I actually push with my toes, and so my heel comes up,” he explained. “If I run a heel rest, then I can't get forward with my heel.”
• He believes the habit dates back to karting, and while he can run a heel rest, it never gets used because his heel “just ends up flying over the thing.”
• Herta also noted differences between IndyCar and F1 seating: in an F1 car, feet are higher and visibility slightly reduced because of the raised tub. “Your legs are up here instead of maybe down here,” he said.
• The 2026 season marks Herta's return to European open-wheel racing. He is contesting the F2 campaign with Hitech and has scored points in both feature races so far (P7 in Melbourne, P8 in Miami).

What's next:

Herta will make his first official F1 weekend appearance in Barcelona, taking part in FP1 for Cadillac. A strong showing could accelerate his path toward a full-time race seat with the American outfit, though he must also continue developing in F2 to prove his adaptability.

“It's definitely a pinch me moment … a realisation of how close it is and how close to driving it is,” Herta said of his upcoming FP1 run.