While Colton Herta continues his quest for the points needed to obtain his Super Licence, the young Ugo Ugochukwu is gradually establishing himself as another possibility for the 2027 season.
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Cadillac could have two American options for its future in Formula 1, with the young Ugochukwu (19 years old) joining F2 driver Herta (26 years old) as a potential candidate thanks to his strong campaign in FIA Formula 3.
For its debut in Formula 1, Cadillac logically prioritized experience by recruiting Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. A choice that allowed the American team to benefit from a certain stability for its first season in the discipline.
An opening in 2027?
Even though Cadillac has still not scored any points in 2026, Pérez has been particularly convincing against his teammate. The Mexican currently leads 7-1 in their direct race confrontation and could also attract the attention of other teams for the 2027 season.
If a seat were to become available, Colton Herta currently seems to be the natural candidate to succeed him. The multiple IndyCar winner left the American championship to join Formula 2 this season with a clear objective: to obtain the points necessary for his FIA Super Licence and access Formula 1.
But his first campaign in F2 has been difficult so far. Herta is only 17th in the championship and admits to being disappointed with his performances: “I really wouldn’t give a very good grade to my season so far,” he admitted.
The American currently has 35 Super Licence points, five less than the 40 needed to race in Formula 1. However, he has another possibility to complete his total. A driver can earn an additional point for each participation in a Formula 1 free practice session, provided they cover at least 100 kilometers. A maximum of ten points can be earned this way.
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Herta back in FP1 in Budapest
After making his FP1 debut in Barcelona, Herta confirmed that he would get back behind the wheel of the Cadillac at the Hungarian Grand Prix: “My next FP1 session will take place in Budapest, I can confirm that. But the next two are still under discussion and will depend on several team-related factors.”
His statements confirm that four free practice sessions are currently planned for him in 2026. However, this could leave Herta one point short of the Super Licence if he does not manage to improve his position in the Formula 2 championship sufficiently. In this context, another American option is beginning to emerge for Cadillac: Ugo Ugochukwu (photo above).
A former member of the McLaren academy, the 19-year-old New York driver is having an excellent season in Formula 3. After winning the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy earlier this year, he now leads the F3 championship.
Ugochukwu closer to the Super Licence
With two wins, including an impressive victory with a 17-second lead in the Silverstone Sprint, Ugochukwu has an 18-point lead over young Audi driver Freddie Slater. His progress could also allow him to quickly obtain his Super Licence.
His title in Formula Regional Oceania earned him 18 points, to which are added 12 points for his third place in Formula Regional Middle East in 2025 and three points thanks to his victory at the 2024 Macau Grand Prix. With a total of 33 points, Ugochukwu would only need seven additional points. A seventh place in the Formula 3 championship would therefore be enough for him to reach the 40 points required.
The American giant (1.92 m) also recently experienced a Formula 1 car during a private test organized by Alpine in Monza. Although he still lacks experience at the highest level, a direct jump from F3 to Formula 1 would not be completely unprecedented. Max Verstappen notably made this leap, while Valtteri Bottas moved from GP3 to F1 after a season as a reserve driver.
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