Colton Herta has announced his intentions to participate in Free Practice sessions with Cadillac F1 during the 2026 season as part of his effort to secure an FIA Super Licence and qualify for a Formula 1 race seat in 2027. The former IndyCar driver aims to leverage this opportunity to deepen his understanding of F1 machinery and Pirelli tires ahead of his upcoming full-time campaign in Formula 2.
Preparing for Formula 1 Through Practice and Testing
With over five years of professional open-wheel experience, Colton Herta has shifted his focus entirely to Formula 1, stepping away from his promising IndyCar career. Testing and Free Practice sessions with Cadillac F1 will be critical for his development this year, offering valuable seat time in advanced F1 cars that will complement his full 2026 season in Formula 2 with Hitech TGR.
Herta recently took part in the first Formula 2 preseason test of 2026 at Barcelona, where he spoke openly about the significance of his planned Cadillac F1 test sessions. The 25-year-old American noted that while his testing schedule is important, the team’s priority currently rests on ensuring a strong debut season in F1.
“Seat time in an F1 car is probably going to be the most important thing to get me ready for Formula 1!” said Herta (via PlanetF1). “So, yeah, looking forward to that. Obviously, it’s a big task and big job that they have on, so I don’t know exactly when those FP1s are going to come. It’s pretty far down on the priority list at the moment!”
Following the recent preseason tests in Bahrain, Herta expressed optimism about Cadillac F1’s progress as they continue their development program.
“But it’s very exciting to see them testing. I think talking to a lot of people, they’re very happy with how it’s going. I think they’ve seen some bumps along the way, but they’re very excited about the progress,” the American driver added.
Herta Sets Ambitious Targets for His First Formula 2 Season
Despite being new to European circuits and the specialized Pirelli tires used in Formula 2, Colton Herta is determined to compete at the front of the field rather than settling for modest goals in his debut F2 season. Recently, Cadillac F1 team principal Dan Towriss suggested that finishing within the Top 10 in the 2026 F2 championship would be a reasonable target for Herta.
However, Herta rejected this cautious outlook, emphasizing his commitment to pursuing victories rather than settling for incremental progress during his transition to European racing.
“Everything that I hop into, I want to be competitive, and I want to be strong. If the goal isn’t to win, then I don’t really see why you would do it. That’s my mindset. Either how unrealistic it is or how realistic it is, I don’t know. I guess time will have to tell.”
“I think if you go into the mindset of, ‘Well, let’s try to work off and start inside the top 15, and then move forward from there,’ I just don’t think it’s the right approach,” Herta added.
Herta’s performance in late 2025 testing showed an upward trajectory. While his lap times during the postseason test in Abu Dhabi were not remarkable, he impressed at the recent Barcelona test by finishing as the fourth fastest in the afternoon session on the third day. His focus now shifts to the start of the 2026 Formula 2 season, scheduled to open in Australia from March 6 to 8.
Implications for Cadillac F1’s Inaugural Season and Herta’s Career
Colton Herta’s involvement in Free Practice sessions with Cadillac will provide the team valuable insights as it launches its Formula 1 campaign backed by General Motors. His gradual acclimatization to F1 machinery and European racing conditions also positions him as a key figure in Cadillac’s effort to emerge as a competitive new entrant in the sport.
For Herta, the combination of testing, F2 racing, and aiming high in his rookie season is not only a personal challenge but also a crucial step towards achieving his long-held dream of a full-time seat in Formula 1. How he manages this transition will be closely monitored throughout 2026, with his progress potentially influencing Cadillac F1’s driver strategy and the team’s postseason development.
