Cadillac Method 1 Group CEO Dan Towriss has admitted that the squad’s new take a look at driver, Colton Herta, can be taking a “big threat” together with his deliberate change from IndyCar to Method 2 subsequent 12 months, however feels the American has the substances to succeed.
Herta, whose Cadillac testing position was introduced earlier this month, is a longtime racer within the United States-based IndyCar Collection, having made 116 begins and scored 9 victories, 19 podium finishes and 16 pole positions thus far.
Whereas Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will drive for Cadillac of their debut 2026 season and past, Herta is aiming to make a case for a future seat – and rating worthwhile factors in the direction of a Super Licence – by swapping America for Europe and tackling the F2 feeder sequence straight under F1.
On the Italian Grand Prix, the place Cadillac’s chiefs made one other go to to the paddock, Towriss defined the explanations behind Herta’s upcoming transfer and famous how racing on the identical tracks as F1 – in addition to utilizing tyres provided by Pirelli – are key elements.
“For Colton, this has all the time been a dream of his, to drive in F1, however to do this, that is the trail he needed to take,” Towriss instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “He has to take an enormous threat, an enormous quantity of threat – no seat is assured. That is F1, so he desires to be taught tracks and tyres and present that respect to European open-wheel racing.
“The entitlement mannequin from the US hasn’t labored out that effectively previously, so we actually wish to construct that physique of labor, the data that’s needed, to see if he has what it takes to drive in Method 1.”
Herta has already tested F1 machinery with McLaren and been in a simulator with a number of groups – Towriss eager to level out that, whereas leads to IndyCar have been combined, the 25-year-old “excelled” at each alternative.
“He actually is a particular expertise,” added Towriss. “I believe lots of people have a look at a few of the leads to IndyCar and say, ‘Effectively, he hasn’t received a championship, he’s not with [multiple champion] Alex Palou’.
“I believe as a workforce proprietor I might take some duty for that; there have been instances the place there have been troubles on pit lane or technique didn’t work out, however Colton’s an immense expertise and he actually can discover pace the place others can’t.
“I believe any time he’s had an opportunity to do a take a look at, whether or not it was with McLaren, or time that he’s been within the sim with Alpine, Pink Bull and Sauber, from that standpoint he actually has excelled and proven actually excessive potential and promise for an F1 seat.
“Now that is the possibility to do it. He’s had to decide on this path of taking an enormous threat to not have that assure of the seat. He’s abandoning what at this level could be very snug for him, to decide on one thing that’s uncomfortable for him – however no threat, no reward, as they are saying.”
When he heads to F2, it is not going to be the primary time that Herta has raced in Europe – the California native beforehand competing on the continent from 2015-16 and spending time as Lando Norris’ workforce mate within the MSA Method Championship.
