Colton Herta to Drive in COTA Practice on October 24
The rookie takes the wheel for the Cadillac team during the first Free Practice session at the United States Grand Prix.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Motorsports
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Cadillac Formula 1 rookie Colton Herta will take the wheel during the first Free Practice session at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on October 24. Herta takes over the car from veteran driver Sergio Perez as the team begins its race weekend at the Circuit of The Americas.
Why it matters
The appearance offers a glimpse of the team's technical progress, as they plan to evaluate new floor and cooling upgrades during the weekend. Fans tracking team development will be watching these initial sessions to see if the modifications improve the MAC-26 performance on the COTA track.
This race marks the 18th round of the Formula 1 season at a track that has hosted the event since 2012. Rookie driver Colton Herta takes the seat for a required practice session, gaining experience on a circuit where he previously won the 2019 IndyCar Classic.
The players
Colton Herta
A race car driver who previously won the 2019 IndyCar Classic at the Circuit of The Americas.
Sergio Perez
A professional Formula 1 driver with 12 appearances in the United States Grand Prix.
Circuit of The Americas
The Austin race facility that has served as the host for the United States Grand Prix since 2012.
The details
Colton Herta is scheduled to pilot the Cadillac MAC-26 during the opening practice session to satisfy the mandatory requirement that veteran drivers cede two practice sessions to rookie talent. Sergio Perez, who has 12 previous United States Grand Prix starts to his name, will step aside for this session. The team is utilizing the weekend to test floor and cooling upgrades, an evaluation process that provides critical data for the team's ongoing vehicle development.
Timeline
Colton Herta drives the MAC-26 in Free Practice 1 on October 24, 2026.
The United States Grand Prix race weekend takes place on October 25, 2026.
The Texas Context
The team's scheduling decision follows the Formula 1 mandatory rookie practice session regulations, ensuring development time for newer drivers. This practice builds upon years of competition at COTA, which has established itself as a premier venue since it began hosting the race in 2012.
Fans heading to the track on October 24 should prepare for peak congestion around the circuit during Friday practice sessions. Visitors should check local traffic updates before departing, as the influx of race fans will significantly impact travel times on the roads surrounding the venue.
The takeaway
Fans should keep an eye on how the rookie’s lap times compare to team benchmarks during the Friday morning session. Monitor the official event schedule for potential track-side updates as teams finalize their setups for the Saturday and Sunday race events.
Further reading
You can follow the latest developments at the track in our Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pitpass.
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