Indycar driver Colton Herta has joined the new Cadillac team as a test driver in 2026 in an attempt to earn a route into Formula 1.
The 25-year-old American has failed to secure enough points in IndyCar under the system of F1’s governing body the FIA to qualify for a licence to race in grands prix, despite winning nine races since 2019.
Herta has now abandoned his role with the Andretti IndyCar team to race in Formula 2 next season.
He and Cadillac F1 chief executive officer Dan Towriss confirmed the move on the Off Track podcast after the announcement that he was joining Cadillac.
Dan Towriss, also CEO of Andretti, said Herta was taking “a big risk”.
Cadillac have signed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as race drivers for their debut F1 season and the multiple race winners have at least two-year contracts.
Towriss said: “I’m confident Colton will get his shot, but he’s got to earn it, right? He’s taking that risk.
“He’s not entitled to the seat. He’s not guaranteed the seat from that standpoint, he’s going over to prove that he belongs in Formula 1.
“What I applaud most about him is his willingness to be uncomfortable. When you come to a fork in the road, the most comfortable thing he could have done was say, ‘I’m well paid, I’m going to stay in IndyCar and go try to achieve this next thing’, but he chose the unconventional path.
“He’s going to be going into F2. He’s got to learn tracks. He’s got to learn tyres. Tyres are a big part of that, very different from IndyCar from that standpoint, and so I just couldn’t be more proud of Colton to be willing to take that risk, to pursue his dream.”
Herta said: “The easy thing would be to stay in IndyCar, that would be simple for me. But for me, it’s a dream of mine. I want to fight for my dream, and that is to try to make it to Formula 1. And this is my opportunity.
“It’s a risk. So I thought this is my last shot at it. I want to do it. I want to take that chance. And so for me, it’s really just about fighting for my dream.”
