Herta keeps F1 options open as Super Licence gap stalls Cadillac plan

Colton Herta says he has “a lot of options” if Cadillac cannot secure him an F1 seat for 2027, but he remains focused on turning his current opportunity into a race drive.

Why it matters:

Herta’s F1 path is stuck on the FIA Super Licence threshold. He needs 40 points over three years; an administrative error around his 2025 IndyCar finish left him at 38 rather than the expected 39, meaning he is still one point short after his Mexico FP1 outing. For Cadillac, the American remains a headline candidate as it builds its new F1 programme, but every extra FP1 session now matters.

The details:

• Herta moved from IndyCar to F2 this term with the aim of securing an F1 seat as soon as possible.
• Cadillac has been giving him FP1 running to push him over the Super Licence line, but the Mexico calculation error delayed that plan.
• He may need another FP1 substitute appearance for Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Perez at a remaining round.
• Herta admitted the F2 season has been challenging: early starts, junior-series logistics and a very different car have made results difficult.
• “There’s a lot of options that are open to me,” he said, while insisting F1 is where he wants to be.

What's next:

Cadillac must decide whether Herta fits its 2027 line-up and whether it can create another practice opportunity. If not, a return to F2 is possible because strong results there offer Super Licence points, though Herta has previously shown little appetite for that route. His immediate priority is clear: close the one-point gap and keep his F1 bid alive.