Cadillac test driver Colton Herta will take part in Friday’s first practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix, aiming to secure the final FIA superlicence point required to race in Formula 1. He will drive Sergio Perez’s car at Interlagos, in what will be his sixth FP1 appearance of the season.
Herta needs 40 points to qualify for the superlicence. Cadillac had believed he reached that mark at the Mexican Grand Prix, but a review of his previous IndyCar results showed he was still one point short. His bid was also delayed when his car broke down at Monza, preventing him from covering the 100 kilometres required for that session to count toward a point. In Brazil, completing 24 laps will meet the distance requirement.
The session gives Cadillac the chance to resolve the shortfall as it weighs its driver line-up for 2027. The team could retain Valtteri Bottas for a second season alongside Perez, or give Herta his Formula 1 debut.
Herta said he was looking forward to driving the MAC-26 at Interlagos and felt increasingly comfortable in the car after his sessions this year. He said his aim was to complete the planned running and provide Perez and the engineers with setup data for the weekend.
Cadillac arrives in Brazil after Bottas’s race in Mexico ended in a high-speed crash caused by a sudden front-left suspension failure. Team principal Marcin Budkowski said the team had implemented measures following its investigation. He also praised Herta’s progress and said his feedback was valuable to Cadillac’s development work for 2027.
Sources: Autosport.