Driver set to make F1 debut at Spanish GP and achieve 10-year first

Colton Herta will make his Formula 1 debut this weekend when he takes part in Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

The 26-year-old American driver will take over Sergio Perez's #11 Cadillac in a live race weekend session this Friday. Herta has been gearing up for his first taste of Formula 1 by using the simulator at Cadillac's facility in Charlotte. He has also spent race weekends trackside with the rest of the team and spent time at Silverstone.

Herta has previously driven McLaren F1 machinery as part of the Testing of Previous Cars programme, but has never taken part in a grand prix session. This weekend will be the first of four sessions he will participate in during the 2026 World Championships. He is set to become the first US driver to drive in F1 directly from IndyCar since Alexander Rossi in 2016.

Formula 1 regulations for the 2026 World Championship require every team to give young drivers experience in FP1 across the season. Cadillac are not the only team that will fill those requirements this weekend, with McLaren set to replace Lando Norris with F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli for the opening session.

Elsewhere, current leader Kimi Antonelli will also take a break during FP1, with Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti set to take his place. Williams will use Luke Browning in place of Alex Albon during FP1 this weekend and plan for him to replace Carlos Sainz at the Austrian Grand Prix later this month.

“I’m excited for Barcelona. I feel ready to get out there,” Herta said. “I’ve had time in the simulator at Charlotte, learning the track and the procedures to follow during the session. I’ve also been working with the team at Silverstone and at the track over the past few races, following how they work so I can get up to speed as quickly as possible.

"The aim is to have a clean session and help the team gather the data it needs, as well as getting used to the F1 car. It’s going to be a busy weekend as I’m competing in F2 at the same time, but pressure is a privilege so I’m looking forward to it.”

Watch every race live with Sky Sports

Sky are currently running an offer that allows existing Sky TV customers to add the Sky Sports F1 channel for just £15 a month, on a 31-day rolling contract. The races are coming thick and fast as F1 heads to Europe with the Barcelona and Austrian GPs later in the month. We then head to Silverstone and the much-anticipated British GP on July 5, before trips to Belgium and Hungary. And it’s not just about the races themselves, of course. Sky Sports F1 is the only place you can watch every F1 practice and qualifier live. You’ll also benefit from behind-the-scenes access, exclusive interviews and world-class analysis, both on a race weekend and in standalone shows like The Notebook with Ted Kravitz and The F1 Show. On top of all that, Sky Sports customers can also stream any of the F1 action live from their phone or tablet via the Sky Sports app.