A sixth FP1 appearance supplies the final point
Colton Herta completed the 100km required for a superlicence point during FP1 at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix in a Cadillac. Motorsport.com reports that his sixth Friday practice appearance of the season brought him to the 40-point threshold required to race in F1.
Cadillac had believed he reached the threshold in Mexico, but subsequently found he remained one point short amid confusion over the calculation of previous IndyCar results. It gave him another FP1 appearance in Sergio Perez's car at Interlagos. F1's official classification records 31 laps. Meeting the points requirement opens a route to eligibility; it does not award him a 2027 race seat.
Bottas says the decision process remains unchanged
Herta's preparation gives Cadillac additional options, while Valtteri Bottas says he is surprised by the extent of speculation about his own seat. Speaking on Thursday in Brazil, he said the team had expressed satisfaction with his work and he had heard of no change to his situation.
Bottas acknowledged that everyone wants to reach F1 and will pursue an opportunity. But he said Cadillac's structure requires board approval for future driver decisions, and the relevant meeting had yet to take place. His confidence and the absence of a final announcement can therefore coexist.
He also pointed to the car's problems. A suspension failure caused his high-speed Mexico crash, complicating any judgement based solely on results. Bottas believes the team knows what he can deliver when the car works and has larger issues to solve than its drivers. He joined to help improve the operation for the future, rather than viewing the first year as a continual fight to retain his seat.
Performance remains a separate debate
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher questioned Herta's suitability on Sky Germany, particularly criticising his F2 season and arguing for opportunities for other young drivers.
The report placed Herta 19th in F2 on 26 points without a podium at that stage. His superlicence points, however, came from several sources including previous IndyCar results and F1 practice appearances. He won nine IndyCar races and finished runner-up in 2024. Struggling in the current F2 season and meeting a points threshold built from a wider record are therefore not contradictory.
