Formula 1

Why Herta's actually still one point off F1 superlicence

Josh Suttill

30 Oct 2026 — 2 min read

Colton Herta is actually still one point short of acquiring the FIA superlicence he would need to make his Formula 1 debut because of a bizarre error in the publication of IndyCar's standings.

Cadillac ran Herta in FP1 in Mexico as it believed he was one qualifying point away from the 40 needed for a superlicence and Herta completing at least 100 kilometres would ensure he gets that final point.

Cadillac had verified its calculations with the FIA beforehand in July, hence the team's belief that it was only one point adrift.

This was contrary to The Race's calculations which had him two points adrift prior to Mexico.

Having brought those calculations to the FIA, The Race understands those initial Cadillac calculations were based on erroneous results on IndyCar's website.

Those results had Herta listed as sixth in last year's drivers' championship, ahead of Felix Rosenqvist who he was tied on points with.

But Rosenqvist should have been classified ahead - and he was in the results distributed by IndyCar at the end of 2025 - because he earned more second-place finishes than Herta.

The error remained on IndyCar's website until a reporter informed it of the error earlier this week, when it was changed to correctly place Herta seventh.

That meant he earned four superlicence points instead of six, which, combined with 30 points for finishing second to Alex Palou in 2024, one point for finishing 10th in IndyCar in 2023, and four points for his FP1 outings this year, means he's actually on 39 points still.

There is a stipulation in the regulations that means you can count FP1 outings in a separate year (2026) to the three years you count results from (2023-25).

The International Sporting Code says: "A free practice only superlicence holder will be granted one additional point per FIA Formula One world championship event following successful completion of at least 100 km during a free practice session, provided that no penalty points were imposed.

"A maximum total of 10 such additional points shall be considered for a super licence application. Any such points awarded will be counted on top of his sporting results, calculated under Art 13.1.5 and shall be independent of the calendar year in which the free practice session(s) was completed."

Cadillac is highly likely to run Herta in another FP1 this year to take him to the 40 points needed, regardless of whether the team decides to run him instead of Valtteri Bottas in F1 in 2027, as is being considered.

The Race has reached out to IndyCar for comment.