It came down to the wire, but Colton Herta has passed his Formula 1 driving test.
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team test driver completed 30 laps during the first practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix, which earned him the final point he needed to apply for the FIA Super License required to race in Formula 1.
Herta started the year with 36 and had to get to 40. He picked up two during practice in Barcelona and Hungary, but is outing in Monza was cut short of the 100 km needed for it to count by a hydraulic issue. Last week’s outing in Austin went well, however, and then Cadillac got him into the car at Mexico City, where fingers were certainly crossed during his outing.
Herta had earned most of his points in IndyCar, but many of them were set to expire at the end of this year, so it was paramount to reach 40 before 2027. His F2 season hasn’t been going well, so the practice sessions were the best way to get there. He’ll now need to shell out $14,000 for his first-year license.
There are no guarantees he’ll get to use it, however. Sergio Perez is set to return to Cadillac next season, but the team still hasn’t decided what’s happening with Valtteri Bottas. While Herta remains a fan favorite for the seat if Bottas leaves, there are several other F1 and F2 drivers in contention for it.
UPDATE: Formula 1 reporter Chris Medland has confirmed with the series that Herta is still one point shy. Apparently, IndyCar had him listed in sixth during the 2025 Season when he finished seventh, leaving him with 39 points now. Cadillac Formula 1 Team has not yet commented on the situation.
