Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss provides insight into the requirements for Colton Herta’s Formula 1 promotion, and that doesn’t just include Formula 2.
What does Colton Herta need to achieve in Formula 2 to have a chance at a Formula 1 cockpit? There has been much speculation about whether the American might occupy one of the cockpits when Cadillac enters the series in 2026, but this failed, among other things, due to the necessary super license points.
Instead, Herta is taking a risk in 2026 and moving from his familiar surroundings in the IndyCar series to Europe to prove himself in Formula 2.
The goal is clear: to collect the necessary points to obtain the super license. However, that shouldn’t be a problem, as Herta can also collect points in free practice sessions – and Cadillac is required by regulations to assign four practice sessions to a driver with a maximum of two Grand Prix appearances anyway.
Of course, Herta will also have to prove himself on the track if he wants to move up to Formula 1. With Hitech, he is driving for a strong team that finished runner-up in the championship in 2025. However, he is not under any great pressure from above.
“I actually expect Colton to finish in the top 10 in Formula 2,” says managing director Dan Towriss, deliberately setting the bar low. “That’s because the main thing is to get to know the tracks and tires and simply focus on his development so that he’s ready for Formula 1.”
Cadillac also doesn’t want to evaluate its protégé solely on his results in the junior series: “It’s not just what happens in Formula 2 that matters,” Towriss emphasizes. Herta will, of course, also get some time in free practice and prove himself in the team’s simulator.
“So we’ll look at the whole picture to assess his readiness for Formula 1,” says Towriss.
If Herta proves himself ready for 2027, then one of the current regular drivers, Sergio Perez or Valtteri Bottas, would have to make way. The exact lengths of their contracts are not known to the public.