Colton Herta to Drive for Cadillac at COTA Grand Prix
Colton Herta will pilot the Cadillac MAC-26 during the first Free Practice session on October 24, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Motorsports
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Formula 1 rookie Colton Herta will take the wheel of the Cadillac MAC-26 for the opening practice session at the Circuit of The Americas. This appearance is part of the United States Grand Prix weekend, which serves as the 18th round of the current season.
Why it matters
The session allows Cadillac to evaluate new floor and cooling upgrades while fulfilling mandatory rookie practice requirements. Sergio Perez, a veteran of 12 United States Grand Prix races, will step aside for the duration of the opening practice session.
Colton Herta brings experience to Austin, having previously won the 2019 IndyCar Classic at the Circuit of The Americas. The track has been a fixture of the Formula 1 calendar since 2012.
The players
Colton Herta
Colton Herta is an American professional racing driver who previously won the 2019 IndyCar Classic at the Circuit of The Americas.
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez is a veteran Formula 1 driver who has competed in 12 United States Grand Prix races throughout his career.
Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas is a professional racing driver who holds a victory at the United States Grand Prix from the 2019 season.
The details
Cadillac intends to utilize the practice time to gather data on technical improvements, including floor and cooling packages. Herta has previously driven in similar sessions at tracks in Barcelona, Budapest, and Monza to gain experience in the current generation of machinery.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: Colton Herta drives the MAC-26 in Free Practice 1.
October 25, 2026: The United States Grand Prix race weekend occurs.
Season Trajectory
This move highlights the ongoing development cycle for Cadillac as they integrate data from floor and cooling upgrades into their Round 18 performance. By utilizing Herta, the team balances compliance with development goals as they navigate the final stages of the championship.
Fans in Austin will see Colton Herta gain critical seat time, effectively shifting the data-gathering workload away from Sergio Perez for the opening hour of the weekend. This rotation is a direct result of mandatory rookie testing requirements enforced across the series.
The takeaway
The team's focus on floor and cooling upgrades during this session will provide essential data for the remainder of the season. Rookie drivers continue to play a key role in team development as the sport enforces more frequent track time for young talent.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments on the track, visit Austin Motorsports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pitpass.
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