The American was viewed as a natural candidate for Cadillac from the beginning, combining significant IndyCar experience with commercial appeal as a homegrown driver for the new American F1 project. However, Herta’s move to Formula 2 was designed to solve one specific problem: earning enough Super Licence points to make his F1 dream possible. Herta’s Super Licence gamble is falling shortHerta entered the season with 35 Super Licence points and needed a top-eight championship finish to reach the 40-point threshold required for a full F1 licence. Herta’s current Formula 2 position makes it increasingly difficult for Cadillac to justify prioritising him for a 2027 seat. Pérez and Bottas remain strong Cadillac candidatesSergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas currently appear to be among the strongest candidates to continue with Cadillac into 2027.