Colton Herta’s bid to secure an FIA super license hit a bureaucratic wall during the Mexican Grand Prix, where a critical data discrepancy rendered his 30-lap practice run invalid for eligibility purposes. The former IndyCar champion, now racing for Hitech GTR in Formula 2 with backing from the Cadillac F1 team, entered Friday’s first practice session believing he possessed 39 of the required 40 points. However, hours after completing the session, Herta and Cadillac officials were informed that an error on the IndyCar website had inflated his total. In reality, Herta remains one point short of the mandatory threshold, a technicality that has temporarily stalled his years-long campaign to enter Formula One.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The incident highlights the fragility of Herta’s path to the top tier, as he has struggled to find rhythm in Formula 2, currently sitting 19th in the championship standings. Despite this underwhelming campaign, Herta has utilized select F1 practice sessions to accumulate the necessary super license points and acclimate to the Cadillac machinery. The Mexico City session was pivotal, as completing 24 laps was the specific requirement to earn the final point. Although Herta exceeded this benchmark by driving 30 laps, the administrative error regarding his prior point total meant the FIA could not credit the session toward his eligibility, leaving him in limbo for the 2027 season.
This setback does not necessarily end Herta’s F1 prospects, as reports indicate he retains a potential ride if he can qualify through other means. The confusion stems from a points tie in the 2025 IndyCar season, where Herta and 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist both finished with 372 points. While IndyCar rules dictate specific tie-breakers for championship standings, the discrepancy in how these points were recorded on the official website created the fatal error. For now, Herta must seek alternative avenues to secure his 40th point, as the FIA maintains strict adherence to verified data for super license issuance.
Source: Yahoo Sports
