BREAKING: FIA Rule Change Causes Headache for Cadillac Star Colton Herta… Read more

FIA Rule Change Causes Headache for Cadillac Star Colton Herta

 

By Hugo Harvey

 

A recent adjustment to the FIA’s superlicence regulations has unexpectedly complicated the career strategy of American racing talent Colton Herta, just months after he committed to a major shift in his motorsport journey. Herta, a standout performer in IndyCar with nine career wins and several seasons of strong championship contention, made the bold decision to leave the American series behind and compete in Formula 2 from 2026. The intention behind the move was clear: gain vital experience in Formula 1’s immediate feeder category and accumulate enough superlicence points to strengthen his long-term ambition of securing a Formula 1 seat.

 

At 25, Herta had firmly established himself as one of IndyCar’s brightest young talents, finishing runner-up to Alex Palou in the 2024 championship. Despite IndyCar’s prestige, the series historically offered fewer superlicence points than Formula 2, leading many young drivers with F1 aspirations to favour the European route. Herta’s switch was therefore strategic—an effort to maximise his chances of collecting the required 40 points across three seasons, the threshold needed to race in Formula 1.

 

However, in a twist that has caught teams and drivers by surprise, the FIA recently confirmed major changes to how superlicence points are awarded in IndyCar. The new system significantly boosts points for drivers finishing between third and ninth in the championship, a move designed to better reflect the series’ competitiveness. Under the updated structure, the driver finishing fourth in the 2026 IndyCar standings will earn 20 superlicence points—double the previous total for that position.

 

Although this represents substantial progress for the American racing ladder, the new allocation still falls short of Formula 2. In F2, fourth place continues to award 30 points, while the top three drivers receive the maximum 40, matching the total given to the IndyCar champion. This means that, despite the rule changes, a successful IndyCar campaign still does not guarantee the same superlicence security as a strong season in F2. Ironically, the FIA’s adjustment may leave Herta questioning whether his switch was the most efficient route, given that remaining in IndyCar could now yield more points than before.

 

Yet Cadillac’s long-term plan involving Herta remains intact. From 2026, he will compete in Formula 2 with Hitech Grand Prix while simultaneously serving as a test and development driver for Cadillac’s new Formula 1 programme. Working alongside experienced full-time drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas, Herta will be expected to contribute valuable feedback as the team prepares for its highly anticipated entry.

 

Cadillac views Herta as an important part of their future structure, particularly regarding the rookie driver requirement for Formula 1 practice sessions. The hope is that he will quickly adapt to the European racing environment, build his superlicence portfolio, and eventually become a realistic option for a full-time seat—potentially when General Motors increases its integration with Cadillac’s F1 operation ahead of the 2028 season.

 

Team principal Graeme Lowdon has already admitted that Cadillac is prepared for a difficult debut year and expects the team to run at the back of the grid in 2026. Nonetheless, having two veteran racers with 16 career Grand Prix victories between them is seen as a crucial foundation. Pérez and Bottas bring the experience and technical insight needed to accelerate development, allowing Cadillac to build a stronger competitive platform for subsequent seasons.

 

Herta’s journey, meanwhile, now faces an unexpected layer of complexity. While the FIA’s revised rules improve opportunities for IndyCar drivers broadly, the timing has placed him in a peculiar position: committed to Formula 2 while the series he left behind suddenly offers greater rewards. Even so, his ambition to reach Formula 1 remains unchanged, and Cadillac continues to view him as a central figure in their long-term American-focused project.

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