Colton Herta to join F2 while serving as Cadillac F1 test driver in 2026

Seasoned IndyCar driver Colton Herta is set to join Formula 2 while concurrently serving as a Cadillac F1 test driver to bolster his qualifications for full-time Formula 1 seat in 2027.

The American racer will be leaving the Andretti IndyCar team owned by the same TWG Motorsport group that holds the majority shares in the new F1 squad, after finishing seventh in the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series drivers championship.

Colton Herta, who has amassed nine IndyCar victories and holds the record as the youngest IndyCar winner, now joins a team featuring experienced full-time drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

His role will be integral in supporting the team’s development, including simulator work, testing programs, and assisting in race preparations as Cadillac aims to establish a competitive presence in Formula 1.

“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.”

With a solid racing pedigree, Herta first made his professional mark in Europe during his junior formula years, competing in the Euroformula Open Championship and British F3 series where he earned several victories and podiums.

Returning to the United States in 2017, he quickly gained recognition in IndyCar with multiple race wins and pole positions, showcasing exceptional race craft and maturity beyond his years.

Herta previously sampled F1 machinery when he served as McLaren’s development driver in 2022, and tested the 2021 McLaren MCL35M at Portimao.

This experience forms a strong foundation as he transitions to the challenges of Formula 1, where the technical demands, tire management, and track knowledge require a steep learning curve.

“Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years,” Cadillac Team Principal Graeme Lowdon said.

“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.”

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Colton Herta to join Formula 2 in 2026

While the main race seats for Cadillac’s debut season have been secured by seasoned F1 veterans Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, Herta’s role as test driver is positioned as a critical stepping stone toward potentially securing a race seat in the future.

Though he currently lacks the requisite FIA super license points to compete in F1 directly – after not finishing high enough in IndyCar standings – his work in 2026 with Cadillac F1 will undoubtedly support his development and may facilitate his pursuit of further super license points through F1 feeder series.

Reports indicate that Herta will compete in Formula 2 in 2026, a move confirmed by Cadillac’s CEO Dan Towriss intended to prepare him for a potential full seat in Formula 1 by 2027.

“We have been fortunate to keep Colton at Andretti in the IndyCar team, and so now, he is going to pursue that dream in Formula 1,” said TWG chief executive Dan Towriss.

“And, to do that, he is going to take a pretty big risk. He is leaving IndyCar, he is not going directly to Formula 1 – this is a test and development driver role – and so he is going to be going into F2.

“He has got to learn tracks, he has got to learn tyres – tyres are a big part of that, very different from IndyCar from that standpoint. I could not be more proud of Colton, to be willing to take that risk to pursue his dream.”

Herta has missed out on several potential moves to F1 due to not possessing the required 40 points for an FIA Super Licence Super Licence.

He was previously tipped to join Sauber when Andretti attempted to buy out the team back in 2021, and AlphaTauri – currently Racing Bulls – later in 2023, but all fell through.

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