Colton Herta Formula 2 and Cadillac F1 transition

American driver Colton Herta is experiencing a difficult transition from IndyCar to Formula 2 during the 2026 season. Ranked 19th in the championship without a podium finish, Herta has struggled to meet performance targets set by Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss. Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel suggested the intense qualifying pressure of the European racing environment may have been underestimated.

Due to his current standing, Herta is unlikely to secure the FIA Super Licence necessary for Formula 1 participation in 2027. Despite this professional uncertainty, Herta is scheduled to drive a Cadillac Formula 1 car during the first free practice session at the Grand Prix in Austin, replacing Sergio Pérez to provide technical data for engineers.

Ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, the Cadillac F1 Team has unveiled a special one-off livery inspired by the American West. The design features patterns reminiscent of denim stitching, vintage cowboy shirts, and saddlery scrollwork. Developed through a collaboration between GM Design in Detroit and the team’s technical center in the United Kingdom, the aesthetic was engineered to comply with Formula 1 aerodynamic regulations. Drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are expected to wear matching Western-style racing suits. Herta remains scheduled to drive the MAC-26 during the first free practice session.