How Can Colton Herta Earn His Super Licence for 2026?

Colton Herta’s F1 dream hinges on Super Licence points. Time’s running out as Cadillac eyes him for its 2026 debut.

If Colton Herta wants a seat with Cadillac F1 in 2026, he has one major hurdle to clear: securing enough Super Licence points.

The American driver, currently racing in IndyCar with Andretti Global, has just 31 of the 40 points needed to qualify for a Formula 1 Super Licence — the key to entering the pinnacle of motorsport.

Fortunately, the IndyCar points system is quite generous. If Herta finishes 4th in the 2025 championship, he’ll earn 10 more points, bringing his total to the required 41. But if he finishes 5th, he’ll only get 8 points, meaning he’d need to find the remaining point elsewhere.

What’s the Backup Plan?

That “elsewhere” could be Free Practice 1 (FP1) sessions in Formula 1. Drivers can earn 1 point per FP1 session, up to a maximum of 10 points per season. So, Herta has a second path to reach the magic number — if his IndyCar result isn’t quite enough.

Here’s a breakdown of how many FP1 sessions he would need, depending on where he finishes the IndyCar season:

• 11th or lower → 9 FP1 sessions
• 10th → 8 sessions
• 9th → 7 sessions
• 8th → 6 sessions
• 7th → 5 sessions
• 6th → 3 sessions
• 5th → Just 1 session

What Are His Chances?

So far, only two races have taken place in the current IndyCar season, and Herta sits 8th in the standings. With 15 races left, it’s far too early to predict where he’ll finish — or whether he’ll need to rely on F1 practice sessions to close the gap.

If he does, Cadillac (or a partner team) will need to slot him into some FP1 outings. That’s not too hard — every F1 team is required to run a rookie in at least two FP1 sessions per season, and there’s usually flexibility up to four sessions. Beyond that, however, it gets trickier, as teams would have to take time away from their main drivers — something they’re rarely thrilled about.

Colton Herta still has a clear path to F1 — but whether it’s through race results, Friday practice sessions, or a mix of both, the road to his 2026 Super Licence will require careful planning and just a bit of luck.

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Herta’s Super Licence Chase: Clock Ticks for 2026
Herta’s Super Licence Chase: Clock Ticks for 2026