Herta heading to Cadillac, F2 transition on the horizon.

      "My aspiration has always been to compete in Formula 1."

      Colton Herta’s long-rumored transition to Formula 1 with Cadillac has now been officially confirmed. The 25-year-old American, who is the son of former US driver Bryan Herta, has been appointed as the test driver for Cadillac’s 2026 debut season. However, the announcement left out an important detail—Herta is nearly certain to leave Indycar to participate in Formula 2, most likely with Prema, to obtain the Super License points he still needs.

      As reported by L’Equipe, Herta is currently six points short of the FIA’s requirement. He could fulfill the gap by participating in six FP1 sessions in 2026, achieving a top eight finish in F2, or a combination of both. "My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a significant step toward that aim," Herta remarked.

      The announcement completes Cadillac’s lineup, which has already selected veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its race drivers. However, retired Racing Bulls team principal Franz Tost raised concerns about the setup. "It will be challenging," he told Speed Week. "The structure is not clear to me. The team collaborates with the design crew from the USA, part of which is in England. One has to question its efficiency, especially considering the time difference. I would have established the team entirely in England.

      "I also do not understand the choice of driver," Tost, 69, continued. "A veteran is acceptable, but they should have included a young driver as well. But we’ll see how it all unfolds."