Cadillac Formula 1 test driver Colton Herta described leaving his eight-year IndyCar career for a chance at Formula 1 as an easy choice. The American driver, now competing in Formula 2, cited his lifelong dream of racing in F1. Herta had previously held talks with Sauber and AlphaTauri that did not lead to a seat.
Colton Herta stepped away from IndyCar, where he achieved nine wins, 19 podiums, 16 pole positions and a runner-up championship finish in 2024, to join Cadillac as it enters Formula 1 as the 11th team in 2026. Alongside his test driver role, Herta is racing in Formula 2 this year. He had earlier pursued opportunities with Sauber and AlphaTauri, but those discussions fell through. Herta shared his reasoning on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast, recounting his early exposure to motorsport. His first race at two weeks old was an IndyCar event, followed by interest in IMSA due to his father's racing there in 2006 and 2007. He said, 'When I grew up as a kid, my first race, I was two weeks old, was an IndyCar race... And then I learned about Formula 1 a little bit later, maybe nine or 10 years old and got addicted to that.' Herta emphasized his passion for multiple series, stating, 'I'm just a motorsports fan. There are so many things that I want to drive. At the top of the list, right there with IndyCar is Formula 1 for me on a personal level.' He viewed the Cadillac opportunity as a direct path to achieving his F1 goal, making it 'very easy for me to say yes to.'