Colton Herta is one step away from securing his FIA Superlicence, with Cadillac giving him another opportunity to collect the final point during Friday's first practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The American driver will return to the cockpit of Sergio Perez's Cadillac at Interlagos, marking his sixth FP1 appearance of the 2026 season. Completing 24 laps of the circuit, equivalent to the required 100km, would earn him the final point needed to reach the 40-point Superlicence threshold.
Key Points:
- Colton Herta needs one more FIA Superlicence point to become eligible to race in Formula 1.
- He will take part in his sixth FP1 session of the season with Cadillac at the Sao Paulo GP.
- A previous mechanical issue at Monza prevented Herta from completing the required 100km to earn a Superlicence point.
- Securing the licence would keep Herta in contention for a potential Cadillac F1 seat in 2027, alongside existing options Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
The Final Push: Herta's Superlicence Bid Returns to Brazil
Colton Herta's journey towards Formula 1 has required several steps, including private testing, Friday practice appearances and a challenging campaign in Formula 2. However, the 26-year-old is still one point short of the 40 points required for an FIA Superlicence.
Cadillac initially believed Herta had reached the required threshold following the Mexico City Grand Prix, but confusion surrounding his previous IndyCar results revealed that he was still missing one point. The team will now give him another opportunity during Friday's FP1 session at the Sao Paulo GP, where he will drive Perez's Cadillac for his sixth practice appearance of the season.
Although teams are only required to field a rookie driver in four FP1 sessions per season, Cadillac has arranged two additional outings for Herta to help him complete his Superlicence requirements. The final hurdle dates back to the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, where a mechanical problem prevented Herta from completing the minimum 100km required for the session to award a Superlicence point.
At Interlagos, completing 24 laps will satisfy that distance requirement and give him the opportunity to secure the missing point.
Why Herta's Superlicence Matters for Cadillac's 2027 Line-Up
Beyond obtaining the necessary qualification to race in Formula 1, Herta's Superlicence could give Cadillac greater flexibility when planning its 2027 driver line-up. The team is currently considering whether to retain incumbent Valtteri Bottas for a second season alongside Sergio Perez, or give Herta his Formula 1 debut in 2027.
Having the licence in place would allow Cadillac to keep both options open as it evaluates its future driver pairing. Herta's development has also been supported through private testing and multiple FP1 appearances throughout the season, giving him more opportunities to familiarise himself with the car and work alongside the engineering team.
Photo by: Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Herta Excited for Another F1 Opportunity at Interlagos
Herta is looking forward to returning to the cockpit of the MAC-26, particularly with the opportunity to experience the historic Interlagos circuit in a Formula 1 car.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the MAC-26 for another FP1 session," Herta said. "Interlagos is such an iconic, historic track, and driving an F1 car around there is going to be an awesome experience."
He also highlighted the progress he has made throughout his practice appearances, explaining that each outing has helped him become more comfortable with the car and better integrated with the engineering team.
"Every time I've stepped into the car this year, from Barcelona to Budapest, COTA and Mexico City, I've felt more comfortable and better integrated with the engineering team," he added.
"My goal for Friday morning in Brazil is the same: execute the run plan cleanly, give Checo and the engineers the best possible setup data to start their weekend, and keep building on my progress in the car. I'm grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity."
Cadillac Looks to Bounce Back After Mexico City Setback
Meanwhile, Cadillac heads to Brazil looking to recover from a difficult weekend at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The race ended with Valtteri Bottas suffering a high-speed crash after a sudden front-left suspension failure.
Following its post-race investigation, the team confirmed that it had implemented measures to prevent a similar issue from happening again. Team Principal Marcin Budkowski explained the situation while also welcoming Herta's return for another FP1 appearance.
"Following our post-race investigations, Valtteri suffered a suspension failure, and we have implemented mitigations going forward," Budkowski said. "I'm also pleased to see Colton return to the MAC-26 for another FP1 outing, stepping in for Checo. His growth in the car across his sessions has been impressive, and his feedback remains invaluable to our 2027 development program."
With another FP1 opportunity at Interlagos, Herta now has a clear target: complete the required distance and secure the final point needed for his FIA Superlicence. Doing so would bring him one step closer to a potential Formula 1 debut with Cadillac in 2027.
