Colton Herta set for Formula 1 practice with Cadillac on June 12, 2026
American driver Colton Herta will make his Formula 1 debut during the opening practice session of the Barcelona Grand Prix on Friday, June 12, 2026, driving for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team.
The 26-year-old test driver is set to replace veteran Sergio Pérez for the hour-long Free Practice 1 (FP1) session at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. This appearance marks the first of four mandatory young driver sessions Cadillac must complete during the 2026 world championship season.
The move represents a significant milestone for both the driver and the team, which joined the grid this year as the first new independent constructor in a decade. Colton Herta currently competes in the Formula 2 championship with Hitech, where he holds 13th place in the standings with 16 points.
His transition to the Cadillac V-Series.R machinery in Spain is part of a structured development program aimed at securing a full-time F1 race seat in the near future.
And then there is the matter of eligibility. Colton Herta currently possesses 35 FIA superlicence points, leaving him just five points shy of the 40 required to compete in a Grand Prix race. Successful completion of these FP1 sessions, combined with his progress in the junior categories, could bridge that gap.
His preparation has been intensive, involving extensive simulator sessions at the Cadillac facility in Charlotte and embedding with the race team at their Silverstone headquarters.
Colton Herta prepares for first Cadillac F1 Team outing
Stepping into the car in Barcelona is a calculated choice by the team. The circuit is a staple of European racing and a frequent testing venue for junior categories. Colton Herta noted that his previous experience at the track in F3 and F4 would provide a baseline, even though the layout has evolved.
He expressed readiness to handle the technical procedures and high-pressure environment of a Grand Prix weekend.
The driver described the opportunity as a “privilege” and emphasized that his primary goal is to provide technical value to the engineers rather than chasing headline lap times. This professional approach is essential for a team still finding its feet. Just as com/international-news/supply-chain-resiliency-perma-crisis-era-logistics-shift/”>supply chain resiliency increasingly prioritised over cost has changed how teams manage logistics, Cadillac is focusing on methodical data collection over raw speed in these early stages.
Role of young driver sessions in Cadillac development
Formula 1 regulations require every team to run a “young driver”—defined as someone with no more than two race starts—in at least four FP1 sessions per year. By selecting Colton Herta for all four of these slots, Cadillac is signaling a long-term commitment to the Californian. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon dismissed rumors that the team might replace Valtteri Bottas mid-season, calling such claims baseless.
Graeme Lowdon praised Colton Herta as a “top talent” with an impressive resume from his time in the NTT IndyCar Series. The team views these sessions as the natural progression for their test driver. It also allows the pit crew and engineers to work with someone other than their primary duo of Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, testing the team’s internal communication and adaptability.
Commercial and technical hurdles for the 11th team
Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 was not a simple or inexpensive feat. General Motors paid a staggering $450 million expansion fee to secure their spot on the 2026 grid. Despite being an American powerhouse, the team currently relies on the Ferrari 067/6 power unit.
They plan to utilize these Ferrari engines until 2029, when General Motors is expected to introduce its own proprietary power unit to the sport.
The scale of the operation is massive. By the end of 2025, Cadillac had already hired 520 staff members from a pool of over 143,000 applicants. This rapid expansion mirrors the growth seen in other sectors, where industries are bracing for the com/international-news/ubs-khan-china-business-ai-impact-analysis-2026/”>biggest transformation for banking jobs and technology sectors due to automation and AI. For Cadillac, the transformation is purely focused on catching the established midfield.
Results on the track have started to show promise for the newcomer. Sergio Pérez recently secured a 10th-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, delivering the team’s best result of the season so far. Integrating Colton Herta into the race weekend workflow is the next step in proving that the team has the depth required to compete at the highest level of motorsport indefinitely.
Balancing Formula 2 commitments in Spain
The weekend will be particularly demanding for Colton Herta, who is pulling double duty. In addition to his FP1 responsibilities with Cadillac, he will compete in the full Formula 2 race weekend with Hitech. Managing the two different cars—and two very different sets of braking points—requires immense mental flexibility and physical stamina, though the driver maintains that he is “excited and ready” for the challenge.
His performance in the junior category has been steady if not spectacular this year. His best results include seventh-place finishes in both Melbourne and Montreal. However, the Cadillac hierarchy, including CEO Dan Towriss, believes Colton Herta has “earned this opportunity” through his work behind the scenes. The team expects him to participate in three further FP1 sessions before the 2026 season concludes.
Future outlook for American drivers in Formula 1
The presence of an American driver in an American-owned team remains a major marketing draw for Formula 1’s owners, Liberty Media. While Colton Herta’s immediate focus is on a “clean session,” the broader implication is clear.
If he performs well in Barcelona and subsequent sessions, the pressure to find him a permanent seat for 2027 will intensify significantly among the fans and stakeholders in the United States.
For now, the focus remains on Friday morning in Spain. Colton Herta will need to demonstrate he can follow the team’s run plan perfectly while keeping the car away from the barriers.
With Cadillac continuing to build its infrastructure and staff, these practice laps are as much a test for the garage as they are for the man in the cockpit. The data gathered in Barcelona will be critical as the team tries to move up from the lower rungs of the constructors’ standings.