Colton Herta will have another opportunity to show his potential in Formula 1. The American driver was confirmed by Cadillac to participate in FP1 at the Italian GP in Monza next weekend.
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Herta will replace Sergio Perez during the first free practice session, before the Mexican resumes the car in FP2. This will be the driver’s third FP1 participation with the team in 2026, after experiences in Barcelona and Hungary.
Hired by Cadillac as a test and development driver for the current season, Herta was guaranteed to participate in some FP1 sessions throughout the year. At 26 years old, he is also competing for a full-time seat with the team for 2027, making the activity in Monza another opportunity to demonstrate his performance.
The American highlighted that the Italian circuit will present a different challenge compared to his previous participations: “This is an excellent opportunity to experience different aspects of the MAC-26,” said Herta, recalling that he had already driven the car on high downforce tracks in Barcelona and Budapest.
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In Monza, the low drag setup will require a different approach: “With the car set up for low drag, it will move more, placing greater emphasis on precision at braking points and navigating the tight space over the curbs in the chicanes,” he added.
Herta also emphasized the importance of returning to the cockpit during a GP weekend: “I’m really excited to be able to contribute to the weekend and to the team’s development at one of motorsport’s most iconic circuits,” he concluded. The activity in Monza will take place simultaneously with the continuation of his Formula 2 program.
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