Colton Herta Reveals ‘Very Real’ Red Bull Contract Offer as Cadillac Test Role Revives F1 Ambitions

Colton Herta reveals he held a Red Bull F1 contract before Super Licence issues intervened. Now a Cadillac test driver, he targets an F1 seat through Formula 2.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 5:32 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Reality of the Red Bull Proposal

Colton Herta has provided the most detailed account to date regarding his failed transition to the Formula 1 grid in 2023. Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast from Cadillac’s technical base in Silverstone, Herta confirmed that he held a physical contract from Red Bull’s senior advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko. The deal was intended to place the Californian in a seat at AlphaTauri, but the move was ultimately blocked by the FIA’s rigid Super Licence points system. Herta noted that the probability of the move fluctuated daily, with Marko providing candid updates on the shifting likelihood of obtaining a regulatory exemption.

Strategic Pivot to European Competition

The disappointment of the Red Bull deal, coupled with a previous unsuccessful attempt by Michael Andretti to acquire the Sauber team, left Herta fearing his window of opportunity had closed. At age 26, Herta admitted he began to view himself as "getting up there in age" for a traditional F1 debut. This realization prompted a radical career shift in 2026, where Herta made the decision to leave a successful career in the NTT IndyCar Series to join the Formula 2 championship with Hitech. This move is specifically designed to accumulate the necessary Super Licence points while familiarizing himself with the Pirelli tires and European circuit layouts.

Cadillac Integration and Test Duties

A pivotal lifeline arrived in the form of the Cadillac F1 Team, the 11th entry on the 2026 grid. Herta was signed as the team’s primary test driver, a role that has already seen him complete extensive simulator programs at Cadillac’s facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, led by Principal Graeme Lowdon and CEO Dan Towriss, has integrated Herta into its technical framework alongside veteran race drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Herta recently underwent a seat fitting at the team’s Silverstone headquarters, marking a significant milestone in his preparation for on-track duties.