It has been clear for several weeks that Colton Herta is set to move to F2, but it remained just a plan until the team was officially confirmed. The final piece of the puzzle is now complete. Participating in Hitech in 2026 He will return to Europe and join the single-seater ladder just below F1.
There are critics of the fact that IndyCar doesn’t offer enough superlicense points to make such a move unnecessary, but putting that argument aside for a moment, Herta believes there are clear advantages to spending time in F2 before future F1 opportunities arise.
“It certainly seems that way,” Herta told RACER about whether he has a better chance of success in F2 than jumping straight out of IndyCar. “In terms of guys who have made the jump in the past, at the moment it’s almost all guys coming from F2. The series seems set up to allow them to get up really quickly.”
“I remember when Olly Bearman jumped into the Ferrari and it was really impressive. I think[Kimi]Antonelli is doing a great job this year. If you look at a lot of the rookies that have come out so far, they can perform very fast. I think that’s a testament to what F2 can offer them.”
“Also, in a way, coming into the race with a fresh mind was very important to me. I didn’t want to just be a test driver and do nothing all year except go to tests. That’s not that exciting to me. I wanted to be able to race with other people, talented drivers. This was, in a way, an easy decision for me, like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this.’
It was not a decision taken lightly either. Herta said he spent a lot of time considering the opportunity in front of him.
“I think the discussion started midway through the IndyCar season last year,” he says. “F1-related announcements were coming up and Dan (Toris) came to me looking for this opportunity to be a test driver and step back into European motorsport.
“I think this was a really great opportunity for me, but one that I knew I would never have again.
“What this move is about is I’m trying to go to F1, I’m trying to be an F1 racing driver. At my age (25), I think this was really the last good shot, the last strong shot. I had to be able to do that.”
“There was a lot of discussion. It wasn’t an easy decision. Of course I’m leaving a lot of great people in IndyCar that I respect, a lot of people that I’ve worked with basically my entire IndyCar career, seven seasons.”
“It was difficult and it was a difficult decision. But for me, I want to fight for the chance to be in F1. I really want the opportunity to be in there. That has always been my goal. In a way, it’s in common with my love for IndyCar. I’ve always wanted to try to be in F1 and I think this is it for me. This is my best chance.”
Herta’s last European tour was in 2015-2016, when he competed in the MSA Formula (pictured), British F3 and EuroFormula Open Championships. Jacob Every/Getty Images
The shot begins in the race seats of Formula 2 team Hitech, just a short walk from Cadillac’s current Silverstone base in England. Logically, it was a bonus for Hertha, but joining a team that is currently competing for both the team and driver championships in F2 was more important.
“There were quite a few options for teams that we were considering,” he says. “I think Hitech stands out for a number of reasons. For me, being close to the F1 workshops was really good. Being in the UK was a big plus on that front as well.
“Plus, it’s results-oriented. We think they’re a really strong team. They’ve got really strong capabilities. The engineering staff I’ve met have been outstanding among those who have been in the paddock for a long time.”
“I think that’s the biggest thing. We have to be results-oriented and we’ve seen what these guys can do. For me, I couldn’t be happier to be joining a team that can compete on the front lines and compete for wins and championships.”
Testing is expected to begin later this year and if all goes well with Hitech, Herta will earn superlicense points and move closer to the entrance to F1. But for now, even the test driver role is something he cherishes, given that it’s part of the sport’s newest team and an iconic American brand.
“I think Europeans know how passionate Americans are about America,” he says. “I’m the same way. I’m very patriotic towards my country. So it’s great to have an American manufacturer and an American team.”
“More than that, it’s an honor. I know Cadillac has invested a lot in this program, and they want the program to be successful. And they want it to do well. From some of the conversations, (they) are very excited to be in F1. Even though it’s new, it’s new for them. I think they want to stay there, they want to be competitive and they want to win.”
“From what I’ve seen so far, looking at the investments that are being made and all the progress, it looks very promising. So I just hope it all pays off. But for me, it’s really great to be an American partnering with a truly American F1 team.”
A young, established American IndyCar driver joining the ranks in partnership with an American F1 team could be a big moment for American motorsport, and Herta is feeling the support from the fans. But he knows that only results can make this move truly successful.
“On the internet, there are a lot of people saying a lot of good things…well, there are a lot of people saying not-so-good things too, but you have to take the good with the bad!” he says.
“But I think it’s great because I want to go to F1. And a lot of it is also for my country. I think people want to see Americans return to F1. But the most important thing is that we have to be good. We have to be strong. To be successful, we have to be fast. So taking these steps is very vital, really important.”
“But it’s cool. I watched COTA last weekend and loved seeing the place packed with American fans. It’s cool. It’s great to have three races. I think a lot of other countries are probably really jealous of that, but for me it feels really special.”
If that all sounds special, imagine what it would be like to see Herta succeed in F2 in the future and line up on the American Grand Prix grid in a Cadillac.
