Colton Herta on Wednesday was named the test driver for the new Cadillac Formula 1 team a move that gives the program its first American driver and takes Herta from IndyCar into the global series.
The move had been speculated for the last two weeks but both Herta and team co-owner Dan Towriss refused to address the talks. The F1 program originally began as a project for Michael Andretti to help build a true American team around California-born Herta, but Herta lacks the super license he needs to be eligible to compete in F1.
The team instead last week announced series veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as its drivers for its 2026 launch, but will now work toward Herta becoming intergrated in the team, serving as its test driver and working toward earning his super license.
He will not compete in IndyCar in 2026, and the racing plans for next season for the 25-year-old will be announced at a later date. Cadillac is believed to be working on landing him a full-time ride in F2, the Formula 1 feeder series.
Im incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a test driver, Herta said. This is a dream opportunity, and one Ive been working towards for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldnt pass up.
My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step towards that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.
This will mark a return to European racing for the second-generation racer his father is former IndyCar driver Bryan Herta. He made his European racing debut in 2015 and over a two-year period secured four victories, six podium finishes and five pole positions in the Euroformula Open Championship.
Herta went on to compete in six British F3 events and earned three podium finishes and a victory at Brands Hatch.
He returned to the United States in 2017 and a career in IndyCar, where he has spent seven seasons while collecting nine wins and 16 pole positions. He became the youngest driver to win an IndyCar Series race in 2019 at Circuit of the Americas, when he was just shy of his 19th birthday.
Herta has scored multiple IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the overall win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2024.
He is now the first test driver named by Cadillac.
We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver. Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years, said Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon. His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.
Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a hugely significant moment, not only for our Team, but for American motorsport as a whole. Colton represents the passion, ambition, and competitive spirit that define the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and we are proud to have him carry the American flag with us on the world stage.
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AP auto racing:
科尔顿·赫塔（Colton Herta）周三被任命为凯迪拉克新一级方程式车队的试车手。此举不仅为该车队引入了首位美国车手，也标志着赫塔从印地赛车迈向全球顶级赛事舞台。
过去两周外界一直在猜测这一动向，但赫塔（Herta）和车队联合老板丹·托里斯（Dan Towriss）均拒绝回应相关谈判。该F1项目最初是迈克尔·安德雷蒂（Michael Andretti）为打造一支真正的美国车队而围绕加州出生的赫塔策划的，但赫塔目前尚未获得参加F1赛事所需的超级驾照资格。
该车队上周宣布由系列赛老将瓦尔特利·博塔斯和塞尔吉奥·佩雷斯担任其2026赛季的首发车手，但现正致力于让赫塔融入车队，担任测试车手并努力获取超级驾照。
这位25岁的车手将不会参加2026年印地赛车系列赛，其下赛季的参赛计划将于日后公布。据悉，凯迪拉克正致力于为他争取F2（一级方程式 feeder 系列赛）的全赛季参赛席位。
赫塔表示：“能够以测试车手的身份加入凯迪拉克一级方程式车队，我感到无比激动。这是我梦寐以求的机会，也是我长期努力的目标。能在如此关键的时刻参与凯迪拉克F1车队的首秀，我绝不能错过。”
我的梦想始终是征战一级方程式赛场，而此次转会正是迈向这一目标的重要一步。现阶段，我将全力为凯迪拉克F1车队付出，助力打造一支具有竞争力的团队。
这标志着这位第二代赛车手将重返欧洲赛场——他的父亲是前印地赛车手布莱恩·赫塔。他于201年首次亮相欧洲赛事，并在两年间斩获欧洲公开方程式锦标赛的四次冠军、六次登上领奖台以及五次杆位佳绩。
赫塔随后参加了六场英国F3赛事，并在布兰兹哈奇赛道三次登上领奖台，其中一次夺冠。
他于2017年重返美国并开启印地赛车生涯，至今已征战七个赛季，斩获9次分站冠军和16次杆位。2019年在美国赛道举行的印地赛车系列赛中，他以不到19岁的年龄成为该赛事史上最年轻的分站冠军。
赫塔在2024年戴通纳24小时耐力赛中多次赢得IMSA卫士泰克跑车锦标赛组别冠军，并在赛百灵12小时耐力赛中获得总冠军。
他现已成为凯迪拉克官方任命的首位试车手。
凯迪拉克车队负责人格雷姆·洛登表示：“我们非常高兴欢迎科尔顿·赫塔担任试车手。科尔顿是一位才华横溢的车手，其速度、赛车技艺和成熟度远超同龄人。作为TWG Motorsport家族成员，他在美国顶级赛车运动中的经验使其成为这一职位的理想人选。随着我们持续为未来蓄力，他将为团队带来宝贵而新颖的见解、视角与活力。”
一位美国车手加入美国一级方程式车队，不仅对我们车队而言，对整个美国赛车运动都具有重大意义。科尔顿（Colton）所展现的热情、抱负与竞技精神，正是凯迪拉克F1车队的核心特质。我们深感自豪能与他一同在世界舞台上高举美国旗帜。
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