‘Super exited’ Herta counting down days to Barcelona F1 debut

Cadillac test driver Colton Herta is officially on the countdown to one of the most anticipated moments of the 2026 season: his Formula 1 debut with the sport’s new entrant.

After trading the ovals of IndyCar for the high-intensity ladder of Formula 2, the 26-year-old is finally seeing his transition pay off with a confirmed four-session Free Practice programme that kicks off this June in Barcelona.

For Herta, this isn't just another day at the office – it’s the culmination of a life’s work and a bold career pivot designed to bring an American driver to the pinnacle of the sport with an American powerhouse.

A dream decades in the making

Speaking on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast, Herta didn't hold back on just how much the moment means to him as he prepares to manhandle Cadillac’s F1 machine.

"I mean, so much. It's always been my goal of coming over here and doing this and doing F2 is to prepare myself to be a Formula 1 driver the best I can, with Cadillac in mind," Herta explained.

"So, it's cool to see that kind of coming together. My first taste of the car in Barcelona is going to be super special. That's a place that a lot of us drivers know really well."

While the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has long been the proving ground for the F1 elite, Herta notes that the track is a rite of passage for almost every driver climbing the European ranks.

"Basically, all of winter testing in Formula 1 for a long time has taken place in Spain or Portugal. And when it's in Spain, it's usually at Barcelona,” Herta explained.

“But people don't tell you that when it's cheaper to run in race cars in F4 and F3, even in F2, basically all your testing happens in Barcelona, 80% of it through the winter.

"So, it's a place that's somewhat familiar to me. Still, I haven't been back there since 2016, so 10 years ago, but the track hasn't changed too much."

Navigating the new-look Barcelona

Actually, the track Herta will return to isn't quite the same one he left a decade ago. The awkward final chicane has been stripped away, returning the layout to its original, sweeping glory – a change that the Californian is more than happy to embrace.

"The last two corners, I'll take that. There are a lot of places that I haven't been to, and I have to learn 20 corners. So, if I have to relearn two corners, I'll take that. That's fine," Herta joked about the minor modifications.

Despite the time away, the confidence that defined his IndyCar career is clearly intact.

"Some of the kerb profiling changes and some of the abrasions on the track or bumps might change here or there, but for the most part, it's a place that I'll be pretty comfortable with, I think. Looking forward to it,” he concluded.

“I'm super excited for it. It's going to be super cool."

• Read also: Cadillac hands Herta four FP1 sessions in 2026

When the lights go green in Barcelona mid-June, Herta won't just be testing a car; he’ll be testing the theory that an American star can bridge the gap and truly belong on the world stage.

Cadillac has their man, and the man is ready to fly.

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