Cadillac has confirmed Colton Herta as its Formula 1 reserve and test driver, bringing one of America’s brightest racing talents into the sport at a time when U.S. motorsport is enjoying renewed momentum on the global stage. The 25-year-old Californian, best known for his exploits in IndyCar, will leave behind his domestic racing career to focus on a future with Cadillac’s ambitious F1 project.

The announcement ends speculation over who would fill the role after Mick Schumacher declined to continue with the team, leaving the position open. Herta’s move not only represents a personal dream realized but also a symbolic moment for Cadillac, which has positioned itself as an American manufacturer eager to make a mark in a European-dominated series.

 

From rumor to reality

Hints of Herta’s move surfaced earlier in the week when reports emerged that Schumacher had requested to be released from his Cadillac contract. That decision immediately shifted attention toward Herta, who had long been linked with a possible switch to Formula 1. Adding fuel to speculation, the Californian himself joked about the rumors during the IndyCar season finale in Nashville, posting a tongue-in-cheek message on social media.

Now, Cadillac has made it official: Herta will join regular drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas in the team’s lineup. In practice, his duties will revolve around extensive simulator work, car development, and readiness to step into a race seat should either of the established drivers be unavailable. For Herta, that possibility carries the weight of a long-cherished dream—making a Formula 1 debut.

“This is a dream opportunity I’ve been working toward for a long time,” Herta said in the team’s announcement. “To be part of Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up.”

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Cadillac’s F1 project and its American identity

Cadillac’s arrival in Formula 1 has been one of the most closely watched stories in recent years. The General Motors-backed entry is not just another manufacturer joining the grid—it is an emblem of American motorsport ambition. Formula 1’s boom in the U.S., thanks to races in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas, has brought heightened attention from American fans, sponsors, and corporations. Yet, despite the growing audience, the sport has lacked a consistent U.S. presence on the grid since Alexander Rossi’s brief stint in 2015.

For Cadillac, bringing in an American driver was more than symbolic. Team principal Graeme Lowdon underscored the importance of the move: “The addition of an American driver to an American Formula 1 team is an extremely significant moment not only for our team, but for all of American motorsport.”

By aligning itself with Herta, Cadillac signals its intent to root its identity firmly in the U.S., while also seeking credibility in a fiercely competitive environment dominated by European expertise. It is a calculated gamble—Herta’s raw pace and international experience make him a logical fit, but the team’s long-term competitiveness will depend on how quickly it can adapt to F1’s technical and political realities.

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A career that started in Europe

Though best known as an IndyCar star, Herta’s racing roots are firmly European. In 2015, he competed in British MSA Formula (now known as British F4) with Carlin, where he not only became the youngest driver on the grid but also secured four race wins and a third-place finish overall. His next step came in Euroformula Open, again with Carlin, where he added four wins and six podiums to his tally. He also dabbled in British F3, notching a win at Brands Hatch—proof that his talent was adaptable across multiple categories.

These early years gave Herta invaluable experience against the cutthroat competition of Europe’s junior formulae, the traditional breeding ground for Formula 1 stars. While he ultimately returned to the United States before climbing into the Formula 2 or Formula 3 ranks, his European grounding helps explain Cadillac’s confidence that he can adapt quickly to the nuances of F1 machinery and culture.

 

Rising star of IndyCar

Back in America, Herta’s climb through Indy Lights was nothing short of spectacular. Driving for Steinbrenner Racing, he won on his debut weekend at St. Petersburg in 2017 and claimed Rookie of the Year honors. By 2018, he was fighting for the championship, finishing second behind Pato O’Ward.

His transition to IndyCar in 2019 was immediate and emphatic. At just 18 years old, Herta stunned the paddock by winning at the Circuit of the Americas, becoming the youngest IndyCar race winner in history. That victory, coupled with his record as the youngest pole-sitter, announced him as one of America’s most exciting talents of his generation.

Over the next seven seasons, Herta became a consistent front-runner. His nine career wins and 16 pole positions were a testament to both his raw speed and ability to adapt to varying circuits, from the short ovals of Iowa to the high-speed road courses of Indianapolis and Laguna Seca. Yet the ultimate prize—an IndyCar championship—eluded him, despite frequent appearances in the title fight.

 

Beyond open-wheel: success in endurance racing

Herta’s reputation extended beyond single-seaters thanks to impressive forays into endurance racing. He claimed class wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona in both 2019 and 2022, showing versatility in the GTLM and LMP2 categories. In 2024, he achieved another milestone with an overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring alongside Louis Deletraz and Jordan Taylor, driving Wayne Taylor Racing’s Acura ARX-06.

Such achievements demonstrate a well-rounded driver profile that extends beyond pure speed, a quality Cadillac will value as it works to sharpen its technical program.

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What this means for IndyCar

Herta’s departure leaves a noticeable gap in IndyCar. For years, he had been one of the series’ most marketable American stars, often linked with potential F1 moves but always loyal to his home championship. His exit not only reshapes the grid but also opens a door for younger talents to step into the spotlight.

At the same time, his move is emblematic of a shifting balance between IndyCar and Formula 1. With F1 enjoying unprecedented popularity in the U.S., the allure of competing at motorsport’s pinnacle has become irresistible for drivers who might otherwise have built careers exclusively in America.

 

The road ahead with Cadillac

For now, Herta’s responsibilities will lie behind the scenes—grinding through simulator sessions, offering feedback, and preparing to step up should Bottas or Pérez be sidelined. Both veterans bring experience, but as Lowdon hinted, neither represents the long-term future of Cadillac’s driver lineup. Herta, therefore, finds himself ideally positioned as the heir apparent.

Whether he ultimately earns a full-time race seat will depend on multiple factors: Cadillac’s competitiveness, his performance in testing, and, of course, the broader driver market. But the trajectory is clear—if Cadillac is serious about establishing itself as America’s team, Herta could be the centerpiece of that vision.

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A symbolic turning point

For Colton Herta, the announcement represents the fulfillment of a childhood dream, one that began on the kart tracks of California and wound its way through Europe, IndyCar, and endurance racing. For Cadillac, it is a statement of intent: an American manufacturer with an American driver, determined to carve out a place in the most competitive racing series in the world. And for Formula 1 as a whole, it signals yet another step in the sport’s ongoing courtship of the U.S.—a country that, after decades of indifference, has suddenly become central to F1’s future.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Piastri gives up seat for Monza

McLaren has confirmed that Oscar Piastri will step aside for the opening free practice session at Monza, with his McLaren car handed over to Formula 2 driver Alexander Dunne. The decision is not one of Piastri’s making, but a result of Formula 1 regulations that require every team to give a rookie driver two FP1 opportunities across the season.

The Australian, who stretched his World Championship lead to 34 points with victory at Zandvoort, will therefore start the Italian Grand Prix weekend with 60 minutes less track time than his teammate Lando Norris. While on paper this may appear to hand Norris a small advantage, history has already shown that missing FP1 does not necessarily disrupt a driver’s rhythm. At Spielberg earlier this season, it was Norris who had to vacate his seat for Dunne, yet he still delivered pole position on Saturday and a race win on Sunday.

Alexander Dunne, currently competing in Formula 2, is relishing the chance to add another Formula 1 session to his record. The Irish teenager is no stranger to the McLaren garage, having already turned laps at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. He described that debut as one of the highlights of his career to date, and Monza, with its long straights and rich history, is now set to deliver another…READ MORE ON THIS STORY