Cadillac CEO Reveals: Colton Herta Nearly Signed Red Bull F1 Deal

Dan Towriss, Cadillac F1 CEO, revealed at the Chinese GP that American driver Colton Herta came very close to signing with Red Bull Racing before joining the new Cadillac team debuting in 2026.

F1 gossip time 🏎️🔥

Colton Herta almost ended up at Red Bull — but ultimately chose Cadillac. And the story behind it is fascinating.

The China Revelation

Dan Towriss, CEO of the new Cadillac F1 team that debuted in 2026, revealed at the Chinese GP (March 12, 2026) that American driver Colton Herta came very close to signing with Red Bull Racing before joining Cadillac.

According to Towriss, the Red Bull deal was very advanced, but ultimately didn't materialize.

Who is Colton Herta?

For those who don't follow IndyCar:

• 23 years old, born in California
• Son of Bryan Herta (former IndyCar driver and team owner)
• Winner of 7 IndyCar races
• Considered one of America's best young talents
• Red Bull had been watching him for years

Why Didn't the Red Bull Deal Happen?

According to Towriss, the Red Bull deal was very advanced, but ultimately didn't materialize. The reasons aren't 100% clear, but there are two theories:

Theory 1: FIA Superlicense

To race in F1 you need an FIA superlicense, which is obtained by accumulating points in other categories (IndyCar, F2, etc.).

In 2022, Herta didn't have enough points for the superlicense, and the FIA made no exceptions. Red Bull tried to negotiate, but the FIA stood firm.

By 2026, Herta had accumulated enough IndyCar points to qualify.

Theory 2: Timing and Opportunities

When Cadillac announced its F1 entry for 2026, Herta saw the opportunity to be a lead driver from day 1 on an American team backed by General Motors.

At Red Bull, he probably would have had to start at AlphaTauri (the junior team) and wait his turn to reach the main team.

What Does It Mean for Cadillac F1?

Cadillac's debut in Australia (March 6-8) was historic:

• Gabriel Bortoleto (Herta's teammate) scored points on his debut
• It's the first American team in F1 since Haas (though Haas is more "American on paper")
• Audi also debuted in 2026 and Gernot Doellner (Audi CEO) flew to Melbourne just to see the debut

The Future

With Herta now at Cadillac, the question is: can an American driver compete at F1 level?

The last time an American won in F1 was Mario Andretti in 1978. Herta has the talent, but needs time to adapt to the car and European tracks.

The Chinese GP (March 13-15) will be the second race of the season. Let's see if Herta can keep improving.

Connection to the Trucking World

Did you know GM (owner of Cadillac) also makes the Duramax engines used in many Chevy and GMC pickups?

And that at our online store we sell parts for those engines? 🚛🔧

F1 technology eventually makes it to commercial trucks:

• Hybrid systems — F1 has used hybrids since 2014, hybrid trucks already exist
• Advanced telemetry — real-time monitoring of every component
• Active aerodynamics — some manufacturers experiment with adjustable spoilers
• Lightweight materials — carbon fiber and special alloys

Chinese GP This Weekend

F1 continues this weekend (March 13-15) with the Chinese GP in Shanghai.

Can Mercedes maintain momentum after the 1-2 in Australia? Will Red Bull recover? Will Ferrari achieve their first win with Hamilton?

Follow us on YouTube for complete coverage.

🔧 Speed Requires Maintenance

In F1, every millisecond counts. In trucking, every gallon of diesel counts. At The Truck Savers™:

• Free road simulator inspection — 100+ points checked before something fails
• Professional alignment machine — precision alignment to maximize efficiency
• Preventive maintenance — to keep your truck winning

Keep your machine race-ready. 🏁💪

Source: Motorsport.com, F1 Official