Colton Herta Confirms Sauber Simulator Triumph Over Raikkonen and Giovinazzi Ahead of 2026 FP1 Debut

Colton Herta confirms he outpaced Kimi Raikkonen in a Sauber simulator test as he prepares for his 2026 FP1 debut with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 8:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Secret Benchmark at the Hungaroring Circuit

In a revealing appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Colton Herta officially confirmed that he topped the virtual timesheets during a three-day evaluation with the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo squad. The test, which took place at the virtual Hungaroring, pitted Herta’s data against the established lap times of 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and Italian teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. While the results created a significant buzz within the paddock, Herta remained grounded about the achievement, acknowledging that simulator speed serves as a vital indicator for teams but does not always translate directly to the physical demands of race day.

The Fallout of the Andretti Sauber Acquisition Bid

The simulator session was originally part of a broader strategic plan by Michael Andretti to acquire a controlling stake in the Sauber operation. During the high-stakes negotiations in late 2021, Mario Andretti famously claimed that Herta had found more pace than the team's primary drivers by his third day in the cockpit. However, the $600 million takeover deal collapsed due to disagreements over team control and financial guarantees. This failure left Herta’s 2022 Formula 1 aspirations in limbo, eventually leading Sauber to sign Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu instead.

A Professional Encounter With Valtteri Bottas

During his time at the Hinwil facility, Herta also experienced a unique overlap with the team's future. He recalled meeting Valtteri Bottas for the first time while the Finn was undergoing a seat fitting following his move from Mercedes. Herta noted the high technical standard of the Swiss factory, particularly praising the team’s advanced wind tunnel infrastructure. While the IndyCar star expressed regret that the initial Sauber opportunity did not materialize into a permanent seat, he cited the experience as an invaluable look into the elite engineering environment of a top-tier European racing team.