Colton Herta will be moving on from IndyCar for a ‘dream opportunity’ with F1 by being a test driver for Cadillac.

Star Colton Herta will be moving on from IndyCar, with the 25-year-old set to be Cadillac’s Formula 1 test driver, news that came roughly a week after fellow IndyCar star Alex Palou shut down rumors he was switching to F1.

Herta had been competing in IndyCar since 2018, spending his first two years of his career driving for Harding Racing and then later, Harding Steinbrenner Racing. Since 2020, the young star drove for Andretti Global with Curb Agajanian, with the name undergoing numerous changes in the last five years.

As a driver for Andretti, Herta compiled nine wins, 16 poles, 40 top fives, and 64 top 10 finishes in 116 starts. Now, the star will be moving on from IndyCar to focus on a new chapter of his career, being the test driver for Cadillac’s F1 team starting next season.

In a statement released by the team, the 25-year-old explained his mindset as he prepares to jump from IndyCar to F1. “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Test Driver,” his statement began.

“This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working towards for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up. My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step towards that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.”

Cadillac F1 Team Principal Graeme Lowdon explained the rationale behind wanting to have Herta be the team’s test driver. “We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver. Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years,” his statement read.

“His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.

“Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a hugely significant moment, not only for our Team, but for American motorsport as a whole. Colton represents the passion, ambition, and competitive spirit that define the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and we are proud to have him carry the American flag with us on the world stage.”

Herta will join former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and current Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas in the 2026 season. For the 25-year-old, his joining Cadillac will be the culmination of years of almost making it to F1 but never coming to fruition.