Colton Herta’s Journey: IndyCar Success Leads to Historic F1 Opportunity

A Rising Star in American Motorsport

Colton Herta has already made history as the youngest driver to ever win an IndyCar Series race, achieving this feat at Circuit of The Americas in 2019 at just 18 years, 11 months, and 25 days old. The California native, who has accumulated nine victories and 16 poles in his IndyCar career, is now set for a new challenge after being announced as a test driver for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which will join the grid in 2026.

2025 Season Highlights

Herta’s 2025 season culminated in an impressive fashion as he secured second place in the final standings, a significant improvement from his 10th-place finishes in the previous two seasons. His excitement was palpable after his victory at Nashville Superspeedway, which marked his first win on an oval track in the series.

F1 Dreams Becoming Reality

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a test driver,” Herta stated, describing it as a “dream opportunity” that he’s been working toward for a long time. He emphasized that his dream has always been to race in Formula 1, viewing this move as a significant step toward that goal, while maintaining his focus on contributing to Cadillac F1’s development.

Team’s Perspective

Graeme Lowdown, Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s principal, expressed delight in welcoming Herta, praising him as “an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft and maturity well beyond his years.” The team believes his experience in top-level American motorsport makes him an ideal fit for the role, bringing valuable fresh insight and perspective to their future plans.

This announcement follows the team’s recent confirmation of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio “Checo” Perez as their first race driver lineup for their debut season, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in American motorsport history.