Following Cadillac's announcement of his four FP1 sessions in the 2026 F1 season, Colton Herta has shared his strong excitement for his debut with the team at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The American test driver, balancing Formula 2 duties, highlighted the session's importance in his F1 journey on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast.
Herta described the Barcelona outing as a 'super special' first taste of the Cadillac F1 car. 'It's always been my goal of coming over here and doing this and doing F2 is to prepare myself to be a Formula 1 driver the best I can, with Cadillac in mind,' he said. Familiar with the circuit from past winter testing in F4, F3, and F2—though not since 2016—Herta welcomes recent changes to the final two corners: 'If I have to relearn two corners, I'll take that.' He anticipates quick comfort due to consistent kerb profiles and minor abrasions. This FP1 debut, the first of four as per Cadillac's earlier confirmation, marks a pivotal step after leaving IndyCar and joining as test driver.