Herta revisits IndyCar breakthrough in Cadillac F1 car at Austin
Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-25GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration
At the site of his 2019 IndyCar breakthrough, Herta said Friday’s FP1 drive in Cadillac’s F1 car felt especially special in front of the home crowd.
Colton Herta drove Cadillac’s Formula 1 car during Friday’s first practice at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. He said the outing was enjoyable and felt especially special because he was driving there with Cadillac in front of the home crowd.
Herta was 18 when he won at COTA in 2019. He recalled that it was his third IndyCar start and that he took the lead at a restart with about 10 laps remaining, leading from there.
His 21-lap outing also had a technical purpose: Herta ran aerodynamic experiments intended to help Cadillac set its development direction for 2027. He ended FP1 21st, 3.9 seconds off the session lead.
FP1 was also part of Herta’s bid for an FIA superlicence: he and Cadillac were seeking additional points through practice outings. Herta hoped one more FP1 later in 2026 would take him to the 40-point threshold, though he said he did not know his exact tally.
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- SOURCEColton Herta savours "super special" Austin homecoming as 2027 uncertainty remainsMotorsport.com F1
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