Lando Norris has voiced his support for former junior teammate Colton Herta, insisting the American has what it takes to compete in Formula 1 after being named Cadillac’s new test driver.
Herta’s Career Path
Herta was recently announced as Cadillac F1’s test driver and is set to compete in Formula 2 in 2026 to gain experience and collect the FIA Super Licence points required to race in F1.
Norris and Herta previously raced together in European Formula 4. Back in 2022, Norris revealed he had nicknamed Herta “Hooligan Herta” because of his wild, aggressive style through high-speed corners at the time.
Now 25, Herta chose a different route through motorsport, climbing into Indy Lights before graduating to IndyCar, where he claimed nine wins and finished runner-up in the 2024 championship. He has since joined Cadillac’s F1 project, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez confirmed as the team’s first race line-up.
Norris on Herta’s Ability
When asked how difficult it would be for Herta to transition from the American ladder into F1, Norris said:
“It’s not easy, but for him it might not be as difficult because he’s good at adapting to all kinds of cars — it’s what he’s done his whole life. He’s extremely talented, and I really enjoyed racing with him back in 2015. He can jump in anything and be quick straight away. But being one of the very best in F1 is where the real challenge lies.”
Norris stressed that Herta is already capable of driving an F1 car at a very high level and pointed to the difficulty of IndyCar machinery as proof.
“I think he’s probably better than a lot of drivers currently coming up through F3 and F2. Of course, there are rules, you can’t just hand out seats, but IndyCar is one of the toughest series in the world. The cars are incredibly demanding — I’ve driven one myself — and the level of competition is extremely high.”
The Super Licence Hurdle
While Herta has long been linked with a move to F1, his main obstacle remains the FIA’s 40-point Super Licence requirement. IndyCar awards 40 points to its series champion, but Herta’s rolling total sits only in the 30s, meaning he needs more points to qualify.
By moving to F2, where the top three each receive 40 points, Herta will have a greater chance to secure the licence he needs for F1.
Norris concluded by saying he hopes to see his former teammate on the F1 grid in the near future:
“Colton is good enough to get there — easily.”
