Colton Herta Secures FIA Superlicence, Paving Way for Potential F1 Seat

Colton Herta has finally secured his FIA superlicence after completing the required 100km of running in Free Practice 1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The American took over Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac for the session, completing 24 laps to earn the final point needed to reach the 40-point threshold. This clears the last major hurdle for Herta to potentially step up to Formula 1 in 2027.

Why it matters:

Herta's superlicence has been a long-standing obstacle to his F1 ambitions, dating back to a denied waiver in 2022 when Helmut Marko wanted to sign him for AlphaTauri. Now, with the licence secured, the Californian becomes a viable candidate for a race seat, particularly with Cadillac, where Bottas's future is uncertain following Sergio Perez's long-term re-signing.

The Details:

• Herta entered the Mexico City FP1 on 39 superlicence points, with the bulk coming from his 2024 IndyCar runner-up finish (30 points) and additional FP1 outings.
• Technical issues in an earlier FP1 outing for Perez's car in Italy left him 25km short of the required 100km, but he made up for it in Mexico.
• Cadillac team boss Marcin Budkowski did not dismiss rumours of a driver swap when questioned in Austin.
• Perez has been re-signed until the end of 2029, putting Bottas's future in doubt.
• Herta is understood to be a leading contender for a 2027 race seat if Cadillac makes a change.

What's next:

With the superlicence now in hand, Herta's focus shifts to securing a race seat. Cadillac's driver lineup for 2027 could see a change alongside Perez, and Herta's IndyCar pedigree and new eligibility make him a strong candidate. The American's long-awaited entry into F1 may finally become reality.