The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has announced that Colton Herta, a nine-time IndyCar race winner, will join the squad as a test driver as the all-American outfit prepares for its debut on the F1 grid in 2026.
Herta, son of former IndyCar race winner Bryan Herta, will return to European competition for the first time since 2015. During his two years on the continent, he claimed four victories, six podium finishes and five pole positions in the Euroformula Open Championship, before contesting six British F3 races where he added three more podiums — including a victory at Brands Hatch — before heading back to the U.S. in 2017.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Cadillac F1 as a test driver,” Herta said. “This is a dream opportunity that I’ve been working toward for a long time. To be part of Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 at such a pivotal moment is something I couldn’t pass up. My ultimate dream is to race in Formula 1, and this is a huge step toward that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1 and helping to build a competitive team.”
The 24-year-old Californian boasts nine wins, 16 pole positions and over 1,000 laps led in 116 IndyCar starts with Harding Steinbrenner and Andretti Global. He remains the youngest winner in IndyCar history after triumphing at Circuit of the Americas in 2019 at just 18 years, 11 months and 25 days. Herta has also enjoyed success in endurance racing, with class victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2019 and 2022, and an outright win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2024.
Herta becomes Cadillac’s first confirmed test driver under the TWG Motorsports umbrella, following last month’s announcement that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will form the team’s inaugural race driver line-up in 2026. Details of Herta’s own 2026 racing program are expected at a later date.
Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdown praised the signing:
“We’re delighted to welcome Colton Herta. He’s an exceptionally talented driver with proven speed, race craft and maturity beyond his years. His experience at the top level of American motorsport within the TWG family makes him a perfect fit for this role. He’ll bring valuable insight, perspective and energy as we continue to build for the future.
Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a hugely significant moment — not only for our team but for American motorsport as a whole. Colton embodies the passion, ambition and competitive spirit of Cadillac F1, and we’re proud to have him carry the American flag on the world stage.”
