Colton Herta may have found an alternative route to finally reach Formula 1. The Cadillac-linked driver needs to reach the required mark to obtain the FIA superlicence, and the team itself could play a decisive role in this process.
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According to information from GPblog, Herta currently has 35 points in the FIA system, which requires a minimum of 40 for a competitor to be eligible to compete in F1. The situation gains urgency because one of these points will no longer count after the end of the current season.
Getting the remaining points through Formula 2 will not be simple. The American is only in 16th position in the championship and would need to finish the year among the top eight to reach the necessary points. Given this scenario, TL1 sessions appear as an important alternative.
According to the regulations, a driver receives one point for participating in a free practice session, provided they complete at least 100 kilometers and do not receive penalty points. Contrary to what many believe, it is possible to gain up to ten points in a single season through these participations.
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Herta already has at least four TL1 sessions secured, including the one held this Friday at the Hungaroring. Even so, he would end the year with two points less than needed. According to GPblog, Cadillac could extend his participation in practice sessions beyond the minimum required for rookies, which would mean Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas giving up two additional sessions.
Asked about the superlicence dispute, Herta admitted he doesn’t follow the count closely: “To be honest, I don’t know exactly how it is. I don’t worry about it. I let others figure it out and tell me what I need to do,” he stated.
The driver also avoided projecting his future beyond next season: “I haven’t even started thinking about it, to be honest. I need to talk to the bosses and understand what’s going on,” he said. Regarding the possibility of staying in Formula 2 for another year, he was direct: “Yes, I would like that.” Contacted by GPblog, Cadillac chose not to comment on the matter.
