Colton Herta still looks likely to secure his Formula 1 super licence this season. After taking part in the first free practice session at the United States Grand Prix, the American needs just one more point. GPblog understands that Cadillac plans to give him another FP1 outing in the coming weeks so he can earn that final point.

Cadillac driver Colton Herta made the switch from IndyCar to Formula 2 earlier this year, partly to earn super licence points through the feeder series. The licence is required to compete in Grands Prix. However, the American’s F2 season has been a difficult one. He will not earn any super licence points through the championship.

Herta, who had already built up a strong tally of licence points thanks to an outstanding 2024 IndyCar season, has another way to earn the final points he needs. Each time a rookie takes part in an F1 free practice session and completes at least 100 kilometres without causing an accident, they earn one point.

Herta could therefore have earned up to four points from the four free practice sessions he took part in this season. But he missed out in Monza, where a hydraulic problem limited him to just five laps. Had he managed to cover the 100 kilometres, he would have been able to apply for his super licence.

Now or never for Herta? 

GPblog understands that Cadillac is expected to give Herta the chance to take part in a fifth free practice session during the final part of the F1 season, allowing him to earn that missing point. It is not yet clear which Grand Prix weekend this will happen at.

For Herta, this opportunity could hardly come at a better time. After the current season, he will lose the 30 points he earned during that outstanding IndyCar campaign. That would make it much harder to make up the shortfall in another category next season.

It is still unclear which racing series Herta will compete in next season. He has already said he does not want to spend a second year in Formula 2. Herta is undoubtedly hoping for an opportunity with Cadillac, for whom he has served as a test driver this season. The American team has Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas under contract for 2027.