Sergio Perez to miss Italian Grand Prix FP1 as Colton Herta steps in

Colton Herta has been announced as the driver to replace Sergio Perez during the first practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This marks Herta's third appearance in FP1 for the 2026 season, having previously participated in sessions in Barcelona and Hungary. As a development driver for Cadillac, Herta aims for a future seat in Formula 1 while also competing in Formula 2, where he has achieved a best finish of fifth this season.

The decision to have Herta step in for Perez aligns with F1 regulations requiring teams to field a rookie driver in four FP1 sessions per season. Cadillac has struggled in its debut season, still seeking its first points, with Valtteri Bottas's 13th-place finish in China being the team's best result so far. The team is also undergoing leadership changes, with Marcin Budkowski taking over as team principal.