Sergio Perez will miss the opening practice session at the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on Friday, October 23, as Colton Herta takes over his Cadillac MAC-26 at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
The change is part of Formula 1’s mandatory rookie-practice program. Perez is scheduled to return for FP2, while Herta gets another opportunity to gain experience in an F1 car at his home Grand Prix.
Why Is Sergio Perez Sitting Out US GP FP1?
F1 regulations require every team to field a rookie driver, defined as someone who has started no more than two Grands Prix, in four first-practice sessions over the season. Each of a team’s two regular drivers must give up their car twice to meet the requirement.
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Austin marks Herta’s fourth FP1 outing of 2026. He previously drove Perez’s Cadillac in Barcelona and Monza, and took over Valtteri Bottas’ car in Hungary.
A suspected hydraulic issue cut short his Monza appearance after he completed only a handful of laps. The Austin session gives Herta another chance to complete a full program and provide useful feedback to Cadillac’s engineers.
When Will Sergio Perez Return to the Cadillac F1 Car?
‘Checo’ is scheduled to return for FP2 on Friday afternoon. The session begins at 4 p.m. local time in Austin, following FP1 at 12:30 p.m.
Friday’s conditions are expected to be warm, with the forecast worth watching as teams prepare for the rest of the weekend.
Fans can check the complete F1 US GP TV and streaming schedule to find out how to watch both Friday practice sessions live.
Colton Herta Looks Forward to His COTA F1 Outing
Herta is Cadillac’s test driver while also competing in Formula 2. The American has a special connection to COTA, where he won his first IndyCar race in 2019 at age 18.
“Driving the MAC-26 in front of the American fans at COTA is going to be special,” Herta said, looking forward to FP1. “I have great memories at this track – winning my first IndyCar race here back in 2019 was a huge moment in my career, so stepping into an F1 car on this layout feels like coming full circle.”
The American said his previous outings in Barcelona, Budapest, and Monza had helped him build a rhythm with the team. His goal for Friday, he explained, is to “execute the test program cleanly, help the engineers gather good data on the setup, and hand the car back to Checo [Perez] with some useful feedback to support the team for the rest of the weekend.”
The session is an opportunity for Herta to build on his experience and help Cadillac prepare for its home race. It is not an announcement of a change to the team’s regular driver lineup.
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