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Colton Herta says he has not been told anything about a possible move to Formula 1 with Cadillac in 2027, despite the American team having monitored his progress for some time.
Herta has been linked with Cadillac since leaving IndyCar to pursue his Formula 1 ambitions. The team is understood to want an American driver to represent its US-based project, making Herta a natural candidate for the seat. Valtteri Bottas had been viewed as the driver most likely to make way, with the Finnish driver having struggled to produce results this season.
However, Herta’s latest comments suggest that a 2027 promotion is far from settled. Speaking to Motorsport Germany, the Cadillac reserve driver reaffirmed that Formula 1 remains his priority, but said he has received no indication that a race seat is close.
“As far as I’m concerned and my goals are concerned: I want to get to Formula 1, and I want to get there as quickly as possible… So far, no one has told me anything, and I simply don’t know how realistic that is.”
The uncertainty adds another layer to Cadillac’s emerging driver-market picture. The team’s interest in young talent has also been discussed in relation to other prospects, while its Ferrari connection has been cited as a factor in Rafael Camara’s potential future. For more on Cadillac’s search for performance, see our report on its effort to unlock gains from Ferrari power-unit know-how: Cadillac targets Ferrari Power Unit know-how to find a breakthrough.
Herta is balancing his F2 campaign with Hitech GP while serving as Cadillac’s reserve driver. He recently drove the team’s F1 car ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, although the limited running proved difficult.
The American described the experience as driving “a bit blind” while he learned what the car required. With only an hour behind the wheel, he said the session passed almost immediately, leaving him aware of changes he could have made after climbing out.
“If you get a second chance behind the wheel, you do better. And in my case, that would undoubtedly have meant a pretty big improvement.”
Herta is scheduled to receive two further free-practice opportunities later in the season. Those sessions will offer additional time to adapt, but they may also prove important in determining whether Cadillac sees its reserve driver as a realistic long-term option.
If Herta is not selected and Camara moves towards Haas, Cadillac could retain Sergio Perez and Bottas for another season. For now, Herta’s Formula 1 target remains clear; the team’s intentions are not.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.