Scorching on the heels of the announcement of their driver line-up of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for 2026, Cadillac have revealed that IndyCar racer Colton Herta will fulfil the function of take a look at driver on the staff.
American driver Herta, whose name had been spoken of in relation to a seat at Cadillac earlier than the Bottas/Perez line-up announcement got here on August 26, was the youngest ever IndyCar winner again in 2019, and has 9 victories and 16 pole positions to his identify from his 116 profession begins within the sequence.
Reflecting on the announcement, 25-year-old Herta – son of former IndyCar and ChampCar racer Bryan Herta – stated: “It is a dream alternative, and one I’ve been working in direction of for a very long time. To be a part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is one thing I couldn’t go up.
“My dream has all the time been to race in Components 1, and I see this transfer as an enormous step in direction of that purpose. For now, my focus is on giving all the things I can to Cadillac F1, serving to construct a aggressive staff.”
Cadillac’s Workforce Principal Graeme Lowdon, in the meantime, added: “Colton is an exceptionally gifted racer with confirmed pace, race craft, and maturity nicely past his years. His expertise in top-level American motorsport as a part of the TWG Motorsport household makes him a super match for this function, and he’ll deliver useful and recent perception, perspective, and vitality to our staff as we proceed to construct for the long run.
“Having an American driver be part of an American Components 1 staff is a massively vital second, not just for our staff, however for American motorsport as an entire.
“Colton represents the fervour, ambition, and aggressive spirit that outline the Cadillac Components 1 Workforce, and we’re proud to have him carry the American flag with us on the world stage.”
Herta has earlier F1 expertise, having tested a 2021-spec McLaren MCL35M at Portimao again in 2022 – with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown saying on the time: “We’re very severe about anybody we put in our Components 1 automobile… The primary gate to get by means of is: do we expect this driver is World Champion, Grand Prix-winning succesful? And if the reply to that’s sure, then we proceed to proceed.”
In the meantime, the transfer will mark a return to European racing for Herta, who competed on the continent from 2015-16, together with time as Lando Norris’ staff mate within the 2015 MSA Components Championship, earlier than returning Stateside.
