Colton Herta is leaving IndyCar and joining Cadillac in Formula 1—Graeme Lowdon explains why he fully supports the US star.
Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon has backed test driver Colton Herta. The 25-year-old American is switching from a full-time cockpit in the IndyCar series to the role of test driver in Formula 1. He will also receive a contract in Formula 2, although the latter has not yet been officially confirmed.
While some view Herta’s decision with skepticism, Lowdon emphasized that this move shows confidence in his own ability and speed. In eight years of IndyCar racing, the California-born driver has racked up nine wins, 19 podium finishes, and 16 pole positions. His most recent success to date came at the 2024 Music City Grand Prix in Nashville.
“The first thing I would say about Colton is that I really like him,” Lowdon told F1.com. “I’ve gotten to know him pretty well over the past few years. I love his approach—he’s a real racer.”
“Some would say that it’s a step backward to go from a winning position in a series to a testing role. It’s about reputation or something like that. What I think is great is when a driver has so much confidence in his abilities and his speed that he takes that step.“
”That’s exactly what we want to see. We don’t want drivers who shy away from a challenge. That’s the pure essence of racing. He’s American, but we’ve always said that everyone in our program is selected based on performance. If he’s American, because we’re an American team, that’s a plus.“
”It’s great for the fans, and we’re already seeing that: the positive reaction to the announcement has been huge. He brings an established fan base with him to the sport,” the team boss explains.
“In my opinion, this is a very good move for him and for the team. We’re combining it with racing in Formula 2 to keep him sharp. We’re looking at various options for 2026, and Formula 2 is obviously one of them. There are many good arguments in favor of this.” Cadillac will enter Formula 1 in 2026 as the eleventh team.
