Why Colton Herta Is One Superlicence Point Short Despite Appearing to Reach 40

Cadillac prodigy Colton Herta‘s superlicence situation has caused a massive stir in the world of F1, with confusion being the theme around his eligibility. While early calculations had him sitting comfortably at 40 points, which is enough points to qualify for the license, the current tally only adds up to 39 points.

Having verified its calculations with the FIA in July, Cadillac opted to run Herta in the Mexico City GP FP1 for 100 kilometers to ensure he got the remaining point on his license. But it turned out that the American driver was in fact two points away from the 40-point mark.

The confusion stems from a technical error on IndyCar’s official website. When looking at the final driver rankings of the 2025 season, Herta finished level on points with Felix Rosenqvist. The result meant both drivers were listed on P6 in the rankings, handing Herta six points on his superlicence.

However, Rosenqvist had more second-place finishes in the season, meaning Herta would officially be listed in seventh. This meant that instead of six, the Cadillac reserve driver only accumulated four points on his superlicence according to the old points distribution system.

And with 100 kilometers under his belt at the Mexico City GP FP1, Herta now has 39 points, instead of the 40 he thought he had.

What Next for Colton Herta and Cadillac?

Now that the calculations have been sorted, Herta’s official tally stands at 39 points, four of which have come from four FP1 outings in F1. Placing seventh in IndyCar in 2025 fetched him another four points, while a runner-up finish in 2024 saw Herta bank 30 points. In 2023, a 10th-place finish in IndyCar earned the American his first point of the superlicence, meaning there’s still time left for him to be eligible for a full-time seat in F1.

Given the tally, Herta needs one more point on his superlicence, and he can earn that by running another 100 kilometers in any of the remaining FP1s in 2026. What’s important here is that Herta and Cadillac have to make sure that he does so this year itself, or else he will have to start from zero next year.

After 2027, the IndyCar points on Herta’s license will expire, but should he apply for a superlicence before that, it wouldn’t matter much. Even if the American driver does not become a part of the F1 grid next season, he wouldn’t have to worry about his 2028 chances, given he will fall into the ‘previous license holders’ category.

This category ensures that drivers who have held a superlicence in the past only need to run 100 kilometers in a free practice session to renew their license. As such, it is critical for Cadillac to ensure that their protege gets one more free practice this year and can apply for the superlicence in 2026 itself.

Colton Herta Earns Praise From F1 Senior Amid Cadillac Speculations

While chaos surrounded Herta’s superlicence situation in Mexico City, the American driver also gained a major boost in confidence. He earned praise from former F1 race winner Sergio Perez for his driving skills.

The former Red Bull driver stated to the F1 media that he was starting to see a lot more speed from the American driver, who was “doing a good job” with the Cadillac F1 team.

Having put pen to paper on a new contract that runs at least until 2029, Perez knows his immediate future is secure with the American outfit. However, the same can’t be said about the second seat at the team, which is currently occupied by Valtteri Bottas.

Speculation continues to rise about the 10-time race winner facing serious competition for his seat, with Herta being the most prominent of them all. And with Perez heaping praise on the American driver’s consistent improvement, it won’t be an easy decision for the team to pick a second driver for 2027.

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