Cadillac signs Herta as F1 test driver

The Cadillac F1 team has named Colton Herta as its test driver, with rumours intensifying over the Californian leaving IndyCar for an F2 campaign.

Herta, whose Andretti IndyCar squad is owned by the same TWG Motorsport group that is the majority shareholder of the nascent F1 squad, will complement regular drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as the American squad gears up for its F1 debut in 2026.

"I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Test Driver," Herta said. "This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working towards for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up.

"My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step towards that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team."

Herta finished seventh in the most recent IndyCar season and has nine career race wins to his name, but as part of his Cadillac duties the 25-year-old now looks set to pause his IndyCar career to pursue those F1 aspirations.

While Cadillac's announcement didn't make any statements on Herta's racing campaign in 2026, rumours have intensified over switch to F2 next year as part of his F1 preparations.

Colton Herta, McLaren MCL35M

Photo by: McLaren

Cadillac did allude to the fact that "the 2026 season will mark a return to the European racing ranks" for Herta, and said "announcements on Herta’s 2026 racing program will be made in due course."

Herta came close to being signing by AlphaTauri in 2023, but those talks stalled over the American not having enough FIA super licence points. The IndyCar frontrunner still finds himself in the same situation right now, and would need to gain six points over the 2026 calendar year to hit the 40-point threshold and be eligible to race in F1.

Speaking about Herta's signing, team boss Graeme Lowdon added: "We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver. Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years. His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.

“Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a hugely significant moment, not only for our Team, but for American motorsport as a whole. Colton represents the passion, ambition, and competitive spirit that define the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and we are proud to have him carry the American flag with us on the world stage.”

Herta previously sampled F1 machinery in 2022 at Portimao, where he tested McLaren's 2021 MCL35M machine.