Colton Herta reveals why he thought F1 dream was over before Cadillac chance

Story by

Lydia Mee

Thu, April 30, 2026 at 9:15 PM UTC ·

6 min read

Colton Herta has revealed that he thought he would never get another chance in Formula 1 after a deal with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls ) failed to come to fruition for the 2023 season.

Herta, who left his successful career in the IndyCar Series behind to join the Cadillac F1 team as its test driver in 2026 alongside a full-time Formula 2 contract, had previously considered a move to F1 in 2021.

The American driver took part in a simulator test with Sauber in 2021, when Andretti Autosport was attempting to purchase the Hinwil-based team. He was later signed by McLaren in 2022 as a development driver to test the Woking outfit's 2021 car, and Red Bull began negotiations with him for a potential AlphaTauri seat in 2023.

Unfortunately for Herta, he did not have enough superlicence points, and the Milton Keynes squad was unable to obtain an exception from the FIA.

During an interview on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast , Herta explained that he didn't think he would have another opportunity to chase his F1 dream after the failed AlphaTauri contract.

"This is a sport, and first and foremost it's a business, right? It's got to put out money and got to collect money and so I understand that, and I understand that side of it.

Colton Herta, Andretti Global

"But it was disappointing to have those two instances where I thought there's, maybe not so much on the Sauber one, but the AlphaTauri deal seemed very real to me. When that didn't happen, I was like, 'Look, OK, I'm kind of getting up there in age, probably won't have another opportunity.'

"And then this came around, and I was counting my lucky stars. This is an amazing opportunity. And to have the people that are involved in it be involved in it is super cool for me because I've known them for a while now from the IndyCar side.

"Even walking around here, a lot of guys are from when I was racing in Europe, and engineers, mechanics that I worked with or knew. It's cool."

Photos from Miami GP - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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The Ferrari front wing

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

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Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of Cadillac F1 Team, Terry Crews

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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

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Nigel Mansell

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

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Franco Colapinto, Alpine

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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

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Racing Bulls team photo

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