Hi friends,
I think the all the rain we were supposed to get in Zandvoort has reached Denmark. Good excuse to sit inside and nerd out about motorsports.
Oh, and a little note: There probably won’t be a recap next week, as I’ll be at the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, and a full schedule of paddock duties doesn’t really leave much time to write the recap. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.
Top Story of the Week: Colton Herta Joins Cadillac as a Test Driver, Will Move to Formula 2
When Colton Herta leaves IndyCar behind, he’ll be embarking on a completely different challenge. The nine-time race winner and 2024 championship runner-up is headed for Formula 2, the FIA’s premier junior single-seater category. The move is less about the series itself, but more about the elusive FIA Super License points. Herta’s golden ticket to race in Formula 1.
Cadillac, the rebranded Andretti entry, has already named Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as it’s drivers for 2026 on multi-year deals. But Herta’s appointment as their test driver shows their intent: he is the American star in waiting. His path to a seat however, hinges on how he performs in Formula 2.
The Unlikely Move to Formula 2
Herta’s switch to F2 is virtually unprecedented. Drivers typically climb from Formula 3, or occasionally national series, into F2. Rarely does a top-tier IndyCar driver, especially one with nine wins and years of experience, reset into a junior category.
The stakes are straightforward: Herta currenly sits on 35 Super License points, set to drop to 34 when the 2026 season gets underway. To reach the required 40, he must secure at least a top eight finish in the F2 standings, or combine a lower finish with free practice outings for Cadillac to scrape together the remaining points.
Scenario 1: Herta Dominates Formula 2
If Herta adopts quickly and dominates F2, winning the title, he will not only cement his place as one of the most versatile single-seater drivers, but also remove any doubt about his eligibility for an F1 seat. A championship triumph would hand him 40 Super License points outright, while also proving his adaptability to European machinery and circuits.
But success could create an unusual problem. With Perez and Bottas locked into Cadillac contracts, there may be no available seat for Herta in 2027. In that case, he may need to spend another year in a placeholder role, whether WEC, Formula E or not racing at all, to wait for his opening.
Scenario 2: A Respectable F2 Season, But Nowhere To Go
Perhaps the most likely outcome, is that Herta performs solidly in F2, finishing in the top midfield or top eight, thereby earning the points needed for the Super License.
But the F1 driver market is notoriously unforgiving. With Cadillac having committed to to Perez and Bottas for multiple seasons, 2027 may arrive with no immediate opening. Unless Cadillac executes some unexpected exits, Herta could find himself stranded. Qualified, credentialed and recognised, yet without a clear path into F1.
In that case, Herta’s career could stall, leaving him to balance test and reserve driver duties while evaluating whether to return to IndyCar, pursue endurance racing, or keep waiting for Cadillac to give him a Formula 1 seat.
Scenario 3: The Risk of a Struggle
The most daunting possibility is that Herta fails to adjust to F2’s unique demands. The Pirelli tyres, sprint race formats and European circuits can trip up even the most talented drivers. If he ends up a midfield runner, or worse – his path to the Super License may evaporate.
Such a scenario would be a blow to Cadillac’s vision of fielding an American driver in F1. Without the necessary points, Herta could be forced to abandon the F1 dream altogether, returning to IndyCar or seeking a drive in other international categories.
What This Means for Cadillac and Formula 1
Whatever happens, Herta’s move is one of the boldest gambles in modern motorsport. For Cadillac, it’s a clear statement of intent. The team wants not just to enter Formula 1, but to do so with a competitive American driver. For the FIA, it reopens debate about whether the Super License system undervalues established drivers from top-tier series like IndyCar.
For Herta, the next two seasons will be career-defining. They could see him become the long awaited American face on the F1 grid, or leave him in the uncomfortable limbo of being a proven star without a seat.
The Rest of the Stories This Week:
- More engine talks to happen in Monza, next formula likely to be a 2.4L v8 hybrid
- Guenther Steiner is set to become a Team Principal in MotoGP
- The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are finalising their takeover of McLaren Racing, resulting in a valuation of over $5 billion
- Portugal, Germany and Turkey targeting returns to the F1 calendar
- Teams and F1 will meet to address the increasing fuel costs for 2026
- Ferrari will run a special livery at Monza in honour of Niki Lauda’s first championship
- Paul Aron will do FP1 at Monza for Alpine
- Alex Dunne will do FP1 at Monza for McLaren
- Contractors building the Las Vegas GP grandstands are being sued after a worker died during construction
- Will Power will take over Colton Herta’s seat at Andretti in IndyCar
- F1 has upgraded the safety car to the Aston Martin Vantage S
- Mick Schumacher’s Cadillac and Alpine deals have fallen through, now linked with McLaren in WEC
- Audi will be getting a new hospitality unit in 2026, replacing Sauber’s 20 year old one
- The Road to Le Mans changes format in 2026 to a single 3 hour race, instead of two 1 hour races
- Ford Performance, who are partnering with Red Bull for their engines in 2026, has been renamed to Ford Racing
That’s it for this week, thank you for being here.
If you want to support me, you can help fuel the snack addiction that powers me through compiling these lists and vetting the stories – you can do so on Buymeacoffee or Patreon.
