IndyCar driver Colton Herta has been appointed as the new test driver for the eleventh Formula 1 team, Cadillac. The American was linked with a seat at the American racing team even before the signing of Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. With Herta’s appointment as a test driver, Cadillac has chosen to add an American driver to their team.
Colton Herta has achieved considerable success in his own branch of motorsport, the IndyCar series. The American became the youngest ever IndyCar winner in 2019. Herta has already claimed nine victories and sixteen pole positions in the 116 times he has started in the American racing class.
With his semi-transition to Formula 1, the driver is taking a leap into the unknown. “This is a fantastic opportunity,” says the son of ChampCar driver Bryan Herta in the official announcement. “I’ve been working towards this for a long time. To now be part of Cadillac’s entry into Formula 1 is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
“My dream has always been to drive in Formula 1,” Herta continues. “So this is a good step in the right direction. For now, my focus is mainly on contributing to Cadillac, to help them set up a competitive team.”
‘American driver in an American team’
Cadillac team boss Graeme Lowdon also sees Herta’s experience in IndyCar as a good addition to the fledgling Formula 1 team. “Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a great moment,” says the Brit. “Not just for the team, but also for American motorsport in general. Colton embodies the passion, ambition, and competitive spirit that typify the Cadillac team. We are proud that he will compete under the American flag on the world stage.”
