Colton Herta to replace Sergio Perez in Cadillac’s Brazil FP1
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 4, 2026
Cadillac and Herta
Cadillac is lining up another FP1 chance for Colton Herta at the Brazilian Grand Prix, and this time he is set to step in for Sergio Perez. The Interlagos session gives Herta one more shot to move closer to the FIA superlicence point he still needs to race in Formula 1. It also extends a run that has already made him a familiar part of Cadillac’s practice program this season. Brazil would be Herta’s sixth practice appearance for the team this year, a sign that Cadillac keeps finding ways to put him in the car and keep his Formula 1 case in motion. The move gives Herta another chance to pursue the point while Cadillac continues its evaluation of him. The next step comes in a session that matters for more than one weekend. It is part of Herta’s effort to earn the final point he needs to race in Formula 1.
Superlicence points
Cadillac says Herta now has 39 superlicence points after an earlier miscalculation tied to an error on IndyCar’s website left him one point short. The path to that total runs through his results in IndyCar and Formula 1 practice. He earned points for finishing 10th in IndyCar in 2023, second in 2024 and seventh in 2025. He also collected points from four FP1 sessions. One more outing at Interlagos would give him a final chance to finish the job, but the task is specific. Herta needs to complete at least 24 laps, or 100 kilometers, in Brazil to secure the point. A mechanical issue at Monza already cost him one chance to add to his total because he did not complete enough mileage to get credit for that FP1 appearance. That makes the Brazilian session more than a simple practice run. It is a measured assignment with a clear target, and Cadillac knows exactly what it needs from him. The team has built the path around his results, his mileage and the points system, and this weekend’s session gives him a direct route to finish it.
Cadillac’s 2027 plans
The superlicence chase fits into a larger Cadillac evaluation that reaches beyond one practice session and one season. Earning the final point would help clear the way for a possible future Cadillac race seat, and the team is still weighing where Herta fits in its long-term plans. Cadillac is continuing to evaluate him for its 2027 development program, where the main questions include whether to keep Valtteri Bottas or promote Herta. That leaves the Brazilian Grand Prix with added weight, because another clean run would strengthen Herta’s position in the discussion. Cadillac has already shown it is willing to keep him in the car for FP1 outings, and the repeated chances suggest the team sees value in building toward a bigger role. For Herta, the immediate goal is simple. Get the laps, earn the point and remove the last barrier between practice work and a potential full-time Formula 1 opportunity. For Cadillac, the weekend offers another data point in a decision that reaches into 2027.
