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On Apr 17, 2026 Cadillac confirmed that American racer Colton Herta will step into a Formula 1 car during four Free Practice 1 weekends this season. The announcement formalizes a plan that pairs Herta’s ongoing rookie year in Formula 2 with real-world track exposure in the team environment. Herta, who transitioned from a strong NTT IndyCar resume into the FIA ladder, has already completed simulator work with the squad in Charlotte and scored points on his F2 debut in Melbourne.
The program begins at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, where Herta will make his first FP1 appearance for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. Across the campaign he will take part in three additional Friday practice sessions, relieving regular race drivers on those mornings to gain experience within a full race weekend. Cadillac framed the plan as a development pathway designed to accelerate Herta’s learning while he continues to race in Formula 2, with further FP1 dates to be confirmed.
The FP1 program and what an outing entails
An FP1 session — formally Free Practice 1 — is the opening on-track opportunity during a Grand Prix weekend for teams to run set-up work, collect aero and tyre data, and evaluate components in race-like conditions. For a young driver this means exposure to pitlane routines, team briefings, and live telemetry analysis from engineers. Cadillac intends for Herta’s four sessions to combine on-track mileage with immediate debriefs so he can translate each outing into measurable progress. The mornings he drives, engineers will use his input to validate development directions and expand the data pool available for race drivers in subsequent sessions.
Benefits for Herta
Accelerated learning in race conditions
From Herta’s perspective the value is not only seat time but the context in which it happens. The program places him inside a full weekend ecosystem — garage procedures, race strategist conversations, tyre management choices and live set-up iterations — converting simulator learning into practical instincts. As Cadillac’s test driver, Herta can compare simulator predictions with real feedback, refine his driving style for F1 machinery, and develop communication skills with engineers under pressure. That combination of practical exposure and simulator work is intended to shorten the acclimatisation curve many drivers face when stepping up to Formula 1.
What the team gains
Cadillac benefits by adding a young, data-focused contributor to its program. Engineers will gather fresh telemetry and a distinct driving perspective that can highlight setup windows or behaviour not seen from regular race drivers. Team leadership described the sessions as a logical step in the driver development ladder and a way to strengthen the pipeline of technical feedback. The extra FP1 outings also expand the team’s capacity to test ideas in low-stakes practice periods, which can inform upgrades or strategy choices later in the weekend.
Scheduling notes and what to watch
The first confirmed appearance is at Barcelona, followed by sessions that will include the Miami Grand Prix weekend — where Formula 2 also visits — and other rounds to be detailed later in the season. Herta was tenth in the F2 Drivers’ Championship after the opening weekend and heads into Round 2 in Miami continuing his rookie campaign. Observers should track how quickly his feedback aligns with the team’s data models, whether the sessions produce measurable setup improvements for race drivers, and how the balance between his F2 races and F1 practice commitments is managed across logistics and recovery.
Outlook and expectations
Cadillac frames these FP1 runs as both a reward for Herta’s early performance and a practical investment in the team’s future. Leadership emphasised that the program is earned and intended to integrate him fully with the organisation, on and off track. For Herta the four sessions offer a high-value audition: they provide a platform to demonstrate development potential, contribute to weekend performance, and prepare for possible future opportunities in Formula 1. Fans and analysts will watch whether this measured, incremental approach yields the rapid advancement Cadillac expects.