Cadillac confirms Herta will replace Perez in Brazilian GP first practice

Cadillac has confirmed Colton Herta will drive Sergio Perez’s car in Brazilian Grand Prix first practice. PlanetF1 reports that Herta is using the session to make another attempt to obtain his FIA Super Licence.

It will be Herta’s sixth first-practice appearance, following an outing in Valtteri Bottas’ car in Mexico City. The FIA confirmed he remained one Super Licence point short after that session, although Cadillac had believed he had reached the threshold.

PlanetF1 reports that the discrepancy came from an error in the published 2025 IndyCar drivers’ standings, which listed Herta sixth rather than seventh. The outlet expects him to qualify for his Super Licence if he completes 100 kilometres in Brazil.

“Every time I’ve stepped into the car this year, from Barcelona to Budapest, COTA and Mexico City, I’ve felt more comfortable and better integrated with the engineering team,” said Herta, Cadillac’s FP1 driver.

“My goal for Friday morning in Brazil is the same: execute the run plan cleanly, give Checo and the engineers the best possible setup data to start their weekend, and keep building on my progress in the car. I’m grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity,” said Herta.

“His growth in the car across his sessions has been impressive, and his feedback remains invaluable to our 2027 development program,” said Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski.

Motorsport.com reports that Cadillac is assessing whether to give Herta a full-time seat for 2027 or retain Bottas alongside Perez.

Perez signed a new multi-year Cadillac deal ahead of his home race, keeping him with the team for at least the next three seasons.

Cadillac heads to Interlagos seeking its first Formula 1 point. Bottas’ 13th place in China remains its best result.