News Summary
- The FIA confirmed Colton Herta has 39 super licence points, one short of the 40 required to qualify for a full Formula 1 super licence.
- The American completed the necessary 100km during Mexican Grand Prix FP1, but discrepancies involving his IndyCar results and previous penalties affected the calculation.
- Cadillac can still help Herta reach the threshold through another eligible practice appearance, although obtaining the points would not guarantee a race seat in 2027.
Colton Herta remains one point short of the FIA super licence threshold despite completing his latest Formula 1 practice appearance for Cadillac at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday (30). The governing body confirmed that the American had reached 39 points, correcting expectations that his fifth FP1 appearance of the season would finally make him eligible to compete in Formula 1.
The development represents another complication in Herta’s attempt to secure a full-time F1 opportunity with Cadillac. The former IndyCar driver completed the required distance during the opening practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but the FIA’s final calculation established that he still needs an additional point.
FIA explains why Herta remains short of F1 super licence threshold
Cadillac entered the Mexican Grand Prix expecting Herta’s latest practice outing to resolve one of the principal obstacles to his potential Formula 1 career.
The American replaced Valtteri Bottas during FP1 and completed the minimum distance required to earn an additional super licence point.
Under the FIA’s regulations, eligible drivers can receive one point for completing at least 100km during an official Formula 1 free practice session, provided they satisfy the relevant disciplinary and sporting conditions.
However, the FIA confirmed that Herta’s total after Mexico was 39 rather than the required 40.
The discrepancy involved the calculation of points accumulated through his previous IndyCar championship results and the application of penalties under the relevant regulations.
Herta’s seventh-place finish in the 2025 IndyCar championship had previously been incorrectly represented as sixth in some calculations.
That distinction matters because championship positions carry different super licence allocations.
The American finished level on points with Felix Rosenqvist, but the tiebreak criteria placed Rosenqvist ahead. Consequently, Herta’s official finishing position was seventh, not sixth.
The governing body’s clarification also addressed the effect of previous penalties on the points calculation.
Herta’s IndyCar results provide foundation of licence application
Herta’s strongest championship result came in 2024, when he finished runner-up to Álex Palou in IndyCar.
That result was worth 30 super licence points, making it the largest contribution to his eligibility.
His tenth-place finish in 2023 added one point, while seventh place in 2025 contributed four.
Those three seasons therefore account for 35 points before the eligible Formula 1 practice credits.
Herta’s additional points have come through Cadillac’s programme of FP1 appearances during the 2026 season.
Colton Herta — Super licence points after Mexico FP1
| Source | Points |
|---|---|
| 2023 IndyCar championship — 10th | 1 |
| 2024 IndyCar championship — 2nd | 30 |
| 2025 IndyCar championship — 7th | 4 |
| Eligible F1 practice credits recognised in current total | 4 |
| Total after Mexico FP1 | 39 |
| Required threshold | 40 |
| Remaining | 1 |
The figures reflect the FIA-confirmed total after Mexico and the documented championship results. The final regulatory assessment also depends on the applicable eligibility and disciplinary conditions.
Why Herta’s Monza appearance did not earn a point
Herta’s progress towards a super licence had already been complicated by a mechanical failure during his Italian Grand Prix appearance.
The American was scheduled to complete an FP1 programme at Monza, but a hydraulic problem restricted him to just five laps.
He therefore failed to reach the minimum 100km distance required for an additional point.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO detailed before the Mexican Grand Prix, Cadillac’s previous calculations had already raised questions about the American’s exact points total.
The team had indicated that Herta was closer to eligibility than the independently documented results suggested.
Mexico was intended to provide an opportunity to eliminate that uncertainty.
However, Friday’s confirmation showed that the additional mileage was insufficient to complete the process.
The distinction is important because participating in an FP1 session does not automatically generate a super licence point.
Drivers must complete the minimum distance and satisfy the other applicable requirements.
Cadillac can give Herta another practice opportunity in 2026
Cadillac still has opportunities to provide Herta with another eligible Formula 1 practice appearance before the end of the season.
The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos is one potential venue, although any additional programme must be confirmed by the team.
Another qualifying FP1 appearance could allow Herta to reach 40 points, provided the FIA recognises the additional credit.
Reaching that threshold would make the American eligible to apply for a full super licence through the standard points route, subject to the remaining requirements.
It would not mean that the licence had automatically been issued. Nor would it guarantee Herta a place on the Formula 1 grid.
Cadillac currently fields Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as its regular race drivers, with both veterans helping the American manufacturer establish its first F1 programme.
Herta’s future remains an important part of the team’s longer-term driver considerations.
Herta’s F1 future remains separate from Cadillac’s driver decision
The super licence issue has become particularly significant because Herta left IndyCar to pursue a Formula 1 opportunity.
Despite winning nine IndyCar races, the Californian had previously been unable to qualify for a full super licence through championship results alone.
His move into the Formula 1 development environment gave him another route to accumulating the required points.
Cadillac has supported that process through multiple FP1 appearances, including outings at Barcelona, Budapest, Monza, Austin and Mexico City.
The American’s fifth practice appearance was confirmed earlier in the week, with the team assigning him Bottas’s car for the opening session.
Herta’s participation also provided Cadillac with technical feedback at a circuit that presents unusual cooling and aerodynamic challenges.
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.
