Cadillac tester Colton Herta has finally qualified for a Formula 1 Super License, permitting him to race in the championship.

Herta’s IndyCar Series results—and his 2026 Formula 2 campaign—were insufficient for him to meet the 40-point threshold that is required per the FIA’s Super License system.

It proved to be an insurmountable hurdle in mid-2022 when Red Bull was interested in placing him at the AlphaTauri team for 2023.

Under Formula 1’s regulations non-race drivers can receive a point, up to 10 per year, for completing at least 100 km (62 miles) in a practice session.

Cadillac thought Herta had reached the threshold in Mexico City, but a miscommunication over his prior IndyCar results meant he was still one point shy.

Herta returned to the MAC-26 on Friday at Interlagos for his sixth practice run of the year and completed 31 laps to add another point to his tally, hitting the 40-point mark. Herta was on 35 pre-2026 but his FP1 run at Monza did not count due to insufficient mileage.

It means he can now apply for the Super License that is mandatory in order to race in Formula 1.

Cadillac recently renewed Sergio Perez’s contract through 2029, but Valtteri Bottas’ position remains unclear.

Friday’s track running means Herta is now a viable option for Cadillac if the team opts to undertake a change as early as 2027.

“All wrapped up here in Brazil with Free Practice 1 and what a fantastic track,” said Herta in a Cadillac post-session release, having been excused media duties due to feeling unwell.

“It’s my first time driving here and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s always a privilege to drive the car, and to be able to do it in three consecutive weekends was amazing. I hope the data can help Checo and Valtteri as we build throughout the weekend.”

U.K.-based Phillip Horton started covering Grands Prix while still at university and swiftly deemed that writing about Formula 1 and the behind-the-scenes machinations was much more engaging than reading centuries-old novels. Degree gained, he went on to cover the sport full-time from 2014 and is as intrigued and excited by the destinations Formula 1 visits during its lengthy annual world tour as the racing itself. Phillip joined Autoweek in 2021 and while he has just about learned to spell in American English he has yet to find anywhere in America that makes a proper cup of tea.