Super excited Herta counts down to Barcelona F1 debut

Cadillac’s newest F1 entry will see test driver Colton Herta on the track in Barcelona for four FP1 sessions in June, marking his long‑awaited debut in the sport’s top tier. The 26‑year‑old, who swapped IndyCar ovals for a two‑year stint in Formula 2, says the Barcelona round feels like a homecoming and a final checkpoint before a full‑season drive.

Why it matters:

• An American driver with an American‑owned team could broaden U.S. viewership and attract new sponsors.
• Herta’s IndyCar champion pedigree gives Cadillac a proven race‑craft foundation as it builds its first car.
• Barcelona’s historic role as the F1 winter‑testing hub makes a strong showing an early indicator of development progress.

The details:

• Career path – IndyCar rookie‑of‑the‑year (2022) → two seasons in F2 (7th overall) → Cadillac test driver.
• FP schedule – Four FP1 slots at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, slated for June 22‑23.
• Track changes – Final chicane removed, restoring the circuit’s original sweeping layout; Herta welcomes the extra corners.
• Driver’s take – “I’m super excited. Barcelona feels familiar even though I haven’t been back since 2016,” Herta told Beyond the Grid.

What's next:

• Herta will use the Barcelona data to refine Cadillac’s power‑unit, aerodynamics and tyre performance.
• A solid performance could accelerate his promotion to a race seat for 2027, bolstering the U.S. driver pipeline.
• The debut gives Cadillac a high‑visibility platform to draw sponsors and fans ahead of its full‑season launch.