American racer Colton Herta is Tom Clarkson’s guest on this week’s Beyond The Grid podcast. (Apr 22, 2026)
Herta says Formula 1 has always been his dream. Leaving IndyCar to race in Formula 2 was a gamble — one that, if rewarded by strong results in a competitive field, could open the door to an F1 seat.
He has already taken on duties as Test Driver for Cadillac, who currently run Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, with Zhou Guanyu listed as Official Reserve Driver. Speaking on the day he completed a seat-fit in Cadillac’s F1 car, Herta reflected on growing up at racetracks with his father, IndyCar figure Bryan Herta, and on a lifelong love of motorsport.
Herta recounts missed opportunities with teams such as Sauber and Red Bull’s junior programme, and explains why he left the US as a teenager to race in Europe. There he raced in junior categories alongside drivers like a young Lando Norris.
He looks ahead to making his F1 practice-session debut for Cadillac later this season and discusses what he must do to be ready should Cadillac—or any other team—look to put an American driver in an F1 seat.