Ralf Schumacher dismisses Colton Herta’s Cadillac F1 prospects
Herta’s sixth practice appearance of the season reportedly secured the point he needed for a superlicence.
Formula Report
Ralf Schumacher has dismissed Colton Herta’s prospects of a Cadillac Formula 1 seat after several outlets reported that the American secured his final required superlicence point at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The point would make Herta eligible to race in Formula 1 in 2027.
Motorsport.com reports that Cadillac test driver Herta replaced Sergio Perez in first practice and completed 24 laps. He finished around nine tenths of a second behind Valtteri Bottas.
Crash.net reports that Cadillac is considering replacing Bottas with Herta in 2027, while PlanetF1 understands the team still favours retaining Bottas.
Perez extended his Cadillac contract until 2029 at the end of October, according to Motorsport.com, securing one of the team’s 2027 seats.
“Herta was really, really bad in Formula 2. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t deserve it at all,” former Formula 1 driver Schumacher said.
“He's just burning fuel, to borrow a phrase from Franz Tost. I don't even know what the point of it is. You might as well put someone else in the car, give some young drivers a chance,” Schumacher said.
“Leonardo Fornaroli is certainly a candidate who would also deserve the chance. After all, he has won the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships,” Schumacher said.
Herta was 19th in the Formula 2 standings, with 26 points and no win or podium finish. He moved from IndyCar to Formula 2 in pursuit of a Formula 1 drive and to accumulate superlicence points.
Herta has won nine IndyCar races and finished runner-up in the 2024 championship.
Key takeaways
- Schumacher questioned whether Herta deserves a Cadillac race seat.
- Several outlets report Herta secured his final required superlicence point in Brazil.
- Cadillac’s plans for Bottas’s 2027 seat remain the subject of reports.
- Schumacher proposed Leonardo Fornaroli as an alternative.
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