American racing star Colton Herta is officially set for his Formula 1 track debut. Cadillac has confirmed the 24-year-old will take the wheel for four Free Practice 1 (FP1) sessions during the 2026 F1 season, beginning with the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June.

This marks a significant milestone in Herta's rapid ascent. While currently competing in his rookie Formula 2 season with Hitech TGR—where he immediately scored points in Australia—his path has been closely watched. A proven winner in the NTT IndyCar Series, Herta has long been touted as America's next great hope for F1.

"Colton is a top talent," said Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon. "Completing all four of our young driver FP1 sessions is a natural next step... I look forward to seeing what he can bring in terms of development and focus."

For Herta, who signed as a test driver ahead of Cadillac's inaugural F1 campaign, this is the culmination of years of speculation. "I can’t wait to get behind the wheel," Herta stated. "I am fully focused on learning from every appearance and hope I can contribute to the overall race weekend."

These FP1 outings are more than just a taste of F1 speed; they're a critical evaluation and development phase. As Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss noted, the sessions offer Herta a "valuable opportunity to integrate with the team, develop his skills behind the wheel and off the track, and learn about a Grand Prix weekend from the inside."

While the F1 circus heads to Miami in May, the motorsport world will now eagerly await June, when Colton Herta's long-anticipated F1 journey begins in earnest on the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.