24 April 2026PlanetF1Race reportDriver Ratings

Colton Herta’s F1 Dream Revived with Cadillac After AlphaTauri Setback

IndyCar star Colton Herta’s near‑miss with AlphaTauri over Super Licence points has been replaced by a test‑driver role at new team Cadillac and a seat in Formula 2. The move could finally turn his long‑standing F1 ambition into a reality.

IndyCar winner Colton Herta says his Formula 1 hopes have been reignited after a “very real” AlphaTauri chance fell through due to insufficient Super Licence points. The 23‑year‑old has signed as a test driver for the new Cadillac F1 team and will compete in Formula 2 to chase a race seat.

Why it matters:

Herta’s move from IndyCar to the F1 ladder shows the growing talent flow between the two series.
Cadillac’s debut needs a driver with race wins and an American profile; Herta delivers both, aiding sponsor appeal.

The details:

AlphaTauri: Red Bull’s junior team offered Herta a contract, but lacking the 40 Super Licence points the deal fell apart in late 2023.
Cadillac: The American‑backed outfit signed Herta as a 2026 test driver, guaranteeing four FP1 outings beginning in Barcelona.
Formula 2: He joined Hitech Grand Prix for 2025, posted a P7 in his debut feature race at Melbourne and is targeting a full‑time drive.
IndyCar fallback: After the F1 talks stalled, Herta re‑signed with Andretti Autosport, keeping his IndyCar seat while pursuing the F1 route.

What's next:

Herta will race the upcoming F2 round in Miami, his first event at home, and hopes his speed will convince Cadillac to promote him.
Cadillac will review his FP1 performance in 2026 before deciding on a race‑seat for 2027.
If he gathers the remaining Super Licence points in F2, Herta could meet the 40‑point threshold and become the first American to jump from IndyCar straight to a full‑time F1 seat.