![\"Cadillac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/03e8e8f2-ec3a-30c7-c6cc-9e55f3eda1a6.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tColton Herta will make his FP1 debut for Cadillac in June at Barcelona. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tColton Herta will make his FP1 debut for Cadillac in June at Barcelona. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The American had explored the possibility of contesting IndyCar at Indianapolis and Formula 2 in Montreal on the same day, with the two venues separated by less than 800 kilometres, but ultimately conceded it was not realistic.<\/p>\n
His decision follows disruption to the Formula 2 schedule, with the Middle East rounds cancelled before replacement events in Miami and Montreal created a direct clash with the Indy 500 weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had visions in my head of being able to do that, but I kind of always knew it wasn\u2019t going to be able to do legitimately,\u201d Herta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as the Indy side, you miss Carb Day, which is a very important day.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then even if it were to work, I think it\u2019d be difficult because for me F2 is the clear priority and Cadillac is the clear priority for me this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was just kind of be a little bit of an added bonus when I had a bit of time off, but yeah, it wasn\u2019t meant to be this year.\u201d<\/p>\n The 26-year-old has instead committed fully to his F2 season, having already scored points on debut in Australia with a seventh-place finish.<\/p>\n \u201cI love it,\u201d Herta said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think for me at the beginning of the year, I thought my only North America race is going to be the Indy 500.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s cool to have two F2 races and two places that look like really interesting tracks, very enjoyable tracks.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have it on my bingo card, but I\u2019m glad that I get to be in Miami and Montreal for the races.\u201d<\/p>\n While his IndyCar absence remains a personal sacrifice, Herta admitted it has been difficult watching from afar after six full seasons in the series.<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to do an IndyCar race, but realistically, it\u2019s probably not going to help anything that I\u2019m doing full-time, so it won\u2019t happen,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cOr I would probably say I wouldn\u2019t do it because it might hurt. I watch every time that I don\u2019t have a race weekend. I\u2019m watching all the sessions, qualifying, races.<\/p>\n \u201cA part of me hurts to watch a little bit because I love the IndyCar racing. I love being in it. It\u2019s such a fun car to drive.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve been able to watch an IndyCar race too, so it\u2019s kind of been enjoyable from that aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside his F2 season, Herta is also stepping further into the Formula 1 environment, with Cadillac confirming he will take part in four practice sessions across this year.<\/p>\n His first appearance will come at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June, marking his debut in an official F1 weekend session.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get behind the wheel of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team car for the first time,\u201d Herta said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am looking forward to working closely with the team in a full grand prix environment and am fully focused on learning from every appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n The practice program forms part of Cadillac\u2019s structured development pathway, with Herta balancing simulator work and race weekends alongside his F2 campaign.<\/p>\n Team principal Graeme Lowdon said he believed the opportunity is a natural progression for the 26-year-old as he continues to adapt to the demands of the F1 environment.<\/p>\n \u201cColton is a top talent, which he has not only proved by building an impressive resume in the NTT IndyCar Series before joining us, but also with a strong start to his Formula 2 season,\u201d Lowdon said.<\/p>\n \u201cCompleting all four of our young driver FP1 sessions is a natural next step in his Test Driver role, and I look forward to seeing what he can bring in terms of development and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n Mullets, motivation and momentum: Inside Cadillac\u2019s F1 project<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/speedcafe.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-1.webp\")
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