Colton Herta to drive Cadillac in Brazil FP1 to secure F1 superlicence point

Cadillac will put Colton Herta in its car for Friday practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, replacing Sergio Perez.

The 26-year-old American is aiming to earn the final point he needs for an FIA superlicence, which is required to race in Formula 1.

Herta currently has 39 of the 40 points required after a calculation based on his IndyCar results proved incorrect.

He also missed out on a point at Monza because a car breakdown kept him from completing the required distance.

He must complete at least 24 laps in Brazil to cover 100 kilometres and qualify for the point.

This will be his sixth Friday practice session of the season, even though teams are required to run a rookie in only four.

The licence could make Herta eligible for Cadillac’s 2027 seat, as the team weighs whether to retain Valtteri Bottas or give Herta his F1 debut.

Cadillac says it has put measures in place after Bottas’s suspension failed during the Mexico race.