Explained: Why doesn’t Colton Herta have a Super Licence yet, following his race in Mexico?

Despite his performance in Mexico, Colton Herta does not yet have a Super Licence to potentially succeed Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac in 2027

According to the FIA, Colton Herta, the potential successor to Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, is exactly one Super Licence point short of being able to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship. Many had originally thought that his appearance in FT1 in Mexico would be enough to secure the remaining points and, as widely assumed, to succeed Bottas at Cadillac.

Herta needs 40 points for a Super Licence. The former IndyCar driver has already accumulated 39 of these, not least during his time in America and through his Friday sessions for Cadillac. The FIA, taking free practice sessions into account, bases its assessment on Herta’s last three seasons: 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Why does Colton Herta not have enough super licence points?

The 2025 IndyCar season in particular has caused confusion in many quarters. This is because a glance at the final standings reveals that Herta is tied on points with Felix Rosenqvist. For a long time, it was assumed that Herta had finished the season in sixth place, thereby securing six Super Licence points.

However, the FIA has informed our sister site Motorsport.com that Herta was in fact ranked seventh in the final standings, behind Rosenqvist. So instead of six, Herta has only four points to his name for 2025.

This numbers game is unlikely to cause too much of a stir, though. With another Friday session under his belt, Herta can also secure the last remaining points and take the wheel for Cadillac in 2027. The FIA also dismissed concerns in Mexico that Herta absolutely must be included in the driver line-up next season to prevent his Super Licence points from expiring.

In summary, whilst the Super Licence is only valid for one year, Herta only needs to make one appearance in free practice within three years to secure a new licence. The previous hurdle of 40 points would no longer be an issue.

In other words: Even if Cadillac were to decide against Herta and retain Bottas in 2027, the 26-year-old’s Formula 1 dream would not be over.

Is the Super Licence a curse for Herta?

The issue of the Super Licence has been haunting the former IndyCar star for years. In 2022, Red Bull had planned to sign the Andretti driver for Alpha Tauri, but it was precisely this idea that fell through due to the lack of a Super Licence.

Whilst it used to be enough to let a young driver clock up some miles in a Formula 1 car, the necessary investment has become significantly more complex over the past decade or so.

Marcin Budkowski was not yet ready to reveal his hand in Austin. The newly appointed Cadillac team principal did not answer the question of whether both drivers’ contracts had been extended beyond 2026. At least Sergio Perez’s future with the team is now officially secured.