(Motorsport-Total.com) – Colton Herta will make his official Formula 1 debut at the Spanish Grand Prix. According to Cadillac, the Formula 2 driver and former IndyCar star is scheduled for the first Free Practice session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
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In addition, Cadillac has planned three more appearances for the American. However, it has not yet been announced exactly when Herta will be used for these sessions.
“I can hardly wait to sit behind the wheel of the Cadillac for the first time,” said Colton Herta in the official press release. With the move to Europe and the Formula 2 series, the 26-year-old is taking a very high risk.
No chance for IndyCar stars?
Historically, IndyCar drivers have often not had the best standing in Grand Prix racing, although exceptions like Jacques Villeneuve or Juan-Pablo Montoya have made a splash.
In the USA, Herta was considered a raw diamond for years. Nine wins, 19 podiums, and 16 pole positions speak for the Californian, even though he has not yet been able to win the IndyCar championship. If Herta succeeds in making the step to the top class, he would be the first American in Formula 1 since Logan Sargeant.
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Cadillac benefits from the regulations in this situation. After all, all teams are required to allocate at least two FT1 sessions per driver to a rookie. This explicitly means drivers who have not yet started more than two Grand Prix races. Thus, Herta will represent both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez twice each.
Full support from the boss
Graeme Lowdon, team principal at Cadillac, is full of praise for his current test driver: “Colton is a top talent, which he has proven not only before joining us through his impressive career in the IndyCar series but also through a strong start to his Formula 2 season.” So far, the Hitech driver has six points to his name.
Cadillac can currently only dream of points. Only the two Aston Martins can be left behind with a lot of luck. Instead, the team’s focus is on the elaborate rebuilding work. It remains questionable if and when Bottas, Perez, or Herta will be able to break into the top 10 for the first time.
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