Cadillac confirms Herta for Mexico FP1 as dispute over F1 super licence points continues

News Summary

• Cadillac has confirmed Colton Herta will replace Valtteri Bottas in FP1 at the Mexican Grand Prix, marking his fifth Formula 1 practice appearance of 2026.
• Herta has 38 documented FIA Super Licence points, although Cadillac believes he has 39. A hydraulic failure prevented his Monza appearance from counting towards the required 40-point total.
• Mexico could remove a major obstacle to Herta’s potential Formula 1 debut in 2027, but his eligibility remains unresolved and Cadillac has not confirmed any changes to its race-driver line-up.

Colton Herta will make his fifth Formula 1 practice appearance for Cadillac at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, replacing Valtteri Bottas in Friday’s (October 30) opening session as the American pursues the Super Licence points required to race in 2027. However, the latest opportunity comes amid an unresolved discrepancy over his points total, with Cadillac claiming the former IndyCar driver is only one point short of eligibility while an independent calculation places him two points away.

The distinction is particularly important following Herta’s shortened appearance at Monza in September. A hydraulic failure restricted him to just five laps, preventing him from completing the 100km required to earn a Super Licence point. Cadillac’s decision to give him another opportunity in Mexico could therefore prove decisive, although the final outcome will depend on the mileage completed and the points recognised by the FIA.

Cadillac confirms Herta will replace Bottas in Mexico FP1

Cadillac announced that Herta will take over Bottas’s car during the opening practice session at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The American previously drove in Barcelona, Hungary, Monza and Austin, gaining experience in the team’s first Formula 1 car.

Mexico will be his fifth FP1 appearance, extending the original four-session programme announced earlier in the season.

Herta welcomed the additional opportunity.

“Every opportunity to get behind the wheel with the team is valuable, and I’m looking forward to being back in the car in Mexico,” he said in Cadillac’s announcement.

“It’s a great chance to keep learning, build my experience in Formula 1 on a new circuit, and contribute to the team’s work across the weekend.”

The 26-year-old will participate in Friday’s one-hour opening session before Bottas returns to the cockpit for FP2.

His programme will have two objectives: gathering useful data for Cadillac and completing as much eligible running as possible towards his Super Licence qualification.

The second objective has become particularly significant because Herta is approaching the end of the period in which his strongest IndyCar championship result contributes to his eligibility.

How many Super Licence points does Colton Herta actually have?

The FIA requires drivers seeking a full Formula 1 Super Licence through the standard points route to accumulate at least 40 points.

Herta’s results in IndyCar provide the foundation of his current total.

He finished tenth in the 2023 championship, second in 2024 and seventh in 2025.

Under the applicable points allocation, those results provide 35 Super Licence points.

He has also completed the required mileage during three Formula 1 free-practice appearances, adding another three points according to the independently documented calculation.

That produces a total of 38 points.

However, a Cadillac spokesperson told RacingNews365 after the United States Grand Prix that the team’s calculation placed Herta on 39.

When asked where the additional point came from, the spokesperson did not provide an explanation.

Colton Herta — Documented Super Licence points

The 38-point total is based on the publicly documented championship results and qualifying FP1 mileage. Cadillac has stated a 39-point figure without publicly explaining the additional point. Neither calculation should be presented as an individually certified FIA total.

The difference creates uncertainty over how close Herta is to securing eligibility.

If Cadillac’s 39-point calculation is accepted, one successful FP1 appearance in Mexico could take him to 40.

If the documented 38-point calculation is correct, he would reach only 39 and still require an additional qualifying point.

The exact total therefore remains an important unanswered question ahead of Friday’s session.

Why did Herta’s Monza FP1 not count towards his Super Licence?

Herta’s Italian Grand Prix appearance was originally intended to provide both development mileage and an opportunity to earn another Super Licence point.

However, a hydraulic failure ended his running after only five laps.

The American had covered approximately 25km, substantially less than the 100km required for an eligible practice appearance.

As reported by RACER on September 4, Cadillac identified the problem and instructed Herta to stop the car.

The technical failure prevented him from returning to the pits and completing the planned programme.

Herta acknowledged his disappointment afterwards.

“The day was shorter than I would have liked!” he said.

He explained that the team had reacted quickly but could not recover the car in time to resume running.

The distinction is straightforward: participating in FP1 is not enough to earn a Super Licence point.

The driver must satisfy the minimum distance requirement and the other applicable conditions.

Because Herta completed only five laps at Monza, that session did not provide the additional point he was seeking.

The setback became particularly frustrating because it resulted from a technical failure rather than a driving mistake.

With the championship approaching its conclusion, Cadillac now has fewer opportunities to provide the mileage needed to complete his application.

How many laps must Herta complete in Mexico?

The relevant Super Licence provisions allow an eligible driver to earn one point for completing at least 100km in an official Formula 1 free-practice session, provided the applicable disciplinary and other conditions are satisfied.

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez measures 4.304km.

That means Herta must complete at least 24 laps to exceed the required distance.

Mexico FP1 — Herta’s mileage target

Twenty-three completed laps would leave Herta just short of the threshold.

Twenty-four would take him beyond 100km.

However, reaching that distance would not automatically settle his eligibility if the FIA ultimately recognises only 38 points before the Mexican round.

What happens if Herta completes 24 laps?

The figures demonstrate why Cadillac’s unexplained additional point is so important.

The team may consider Mexico sufficient to complete Herta’s points requirement, while the independently documented calculation indicates he would still need another opportunity.

Only confirmation of the points accepted under the FIA’s rules can resolve that discrepancy.

Why the 2026 deadline matters for Herta

Herta’s pursuit of a Formula 1 seat has been complicated by the Super Licence system for several years.

Despite winning nine IndyCar races, the Californian did not accumulate enough points through his championship results alone to qualify automatically.

His second-place finish in the 2024 IndyCar championship was particularly valuable, accounting for 30 of his documented 38 points.

However, the FIA assesses eligible results within a defined period.

That makes 2026 especially important because the 2024 result could fall outside the relevant calculation window in a future application.

Herta therefore has a strong incentive to establish eligibility before the end of the current season, while those points remain available under the applicable rules.

The American moved from IndyCar to Formula 2 for 2026 partly to pursue another route to the required points.

His campaign has proved difficult, leaving additional FP1 appearances as a particularly important opportunity to strengthen his application.

Cadillac has already given him more current-car experience than originally planned.

The fifth appearance in Mexico demonstrates the organisation’s willingness to support his development, although it does not establish that his future in Formula 1 has been decided.

Does Mexico increase Herta’s chances of replacing Bottas in 2027?

The announcement will inevitably raise further questions about Cadillac’s driver plans.

Herta is the team’s American test driver and one of the most recognisable candidates for a future full-time seat.

He left an established IndyCar career to pursue Formula 1 opportunities with the Cadillac project, making a promotion a clear sporting objective.

Meanwhile, Bottas and Sergio Pérez have spent 2026 establishing the American team’s first Formula 1 programme.

Cadillac has struggled to score points during its debut season, and its leadership must decide how to balance experienced drivers with longer-term development.

The possibility of promoting Herta has already been discussed publicly.

As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after Austin, Cadillac has not ruled out changes to its 2027 driver line-up.

Team executives have acknowledged that Herta could become an option if he satisfies the necessary requirements.

However, Super Licence eligibility and selection for a race seat are two separate decisions.

Obtaining 40 points would make Herta eligible to apply for the appropriate FIA licence, subject to the remaining requirements.

It would not oblige Cadillac to replace Bottas or Pérez.

Nor does Herta taking Bottas’s car in Mexico establish that the Finn has been selected to leave the team.

The decision may also reflect Cadillac’s allocation of mandatory rookie-practice opportunities between its regular drivers.

For now, there has been no official announcement confirming Herta as a Cadillac race driver for 2027.

Cadillac’s fifth FP1 opportunity puts Herta back in focus

The latest confirmation comes after Herta completed another practice programme during the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.

The American replaced Pérez at Austin, gaining useful track time and contributing technical feedback during Cadillac’s home race.

He finished 21st in the session, but the team emphasised that its objectives involved development work and collecting data rather than chasing a competitive qualifying-style lap.

The Austin outing formed another important stage of Herta’s transition towards Formula 1.

Mexico now provides an additional opportunity.

Unlike Austin, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez presents unusually demanding conditions because of its altitude.

The circuit sits approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, where thinner air affects turbocharging, cooling and aerodynamic performance.

As GRANDE PRÊMIO explained in its technical analysis of the 2026 hybrid engines, those conditions create challenges for every manufacturer.

For Cadillac, the session will therefore provide important information about the behaviour of its car in an environment that differs significantly from most other venues.

For Herta, however, the number of laps he completes may prove even more consequential than his finishing position on the timing screens.

Six regular drivers will miss Mexico FP1

Herta’s confirmation also expands the list of substitutes participating in the Mexican Grand Prix’s opening practice session.

Mercedes will use Frederik Vesti in place of George Russell, while Alpine has assigned Gabriele Minì to Franco Colapinto’s car.

Williams will field Luke Browning instead of Alex Albon.

Audi has confirmed Freddie Slater in place of Gabriel Bortoleto, while Aston Martin will use Jak Crawford instead of Lance Stroll.

Cadillac’s decision to field Herta therefore increases the announced number of substitutions to six.

Mexican GP 2026 — FP1 substitutions

Confirmed or reported substitutions as of October 27, subject to additional team announcements.

The changes were previously covered in the latest report on Mexico’s extensive FP1 substitutions.

Mercedes also confirmed Vesti’s participation separately.

All six regular drivers are expected to return for FP2.

What time will Colton Herta drive at the Mexican Grand Prix?

FP1 takes place on Friday, October 30, beginning at 12:30pm local time in Mexico City.

The session lasts one hour.

Mexican GP FP1 — Start times worldwide

The Mexican Grand Prix continues with FP2 on Friday, FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, and the 71-lap race on Sunday, November 1.

Cadillac will restore its regular Bottas-Pérez driver pairing for the second session.

For Herta, the immediate objective is to complete Cadillac’s development programme while obtaining the qualifying mileage needed to support his Super Licence application.

Whether Mexico provides his final required point will depend on resolving the discrepancy between the team’s calculation and the independently documented total.

GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.