Herta to F2: Last chance for the IndyCar star to shine in F1?

The talented American IndyCar driver, Colton Herta, has made a bold decision in his career: to compete in Formula 2 in 2026. This strategy, uncommon in modern motorsport, involves a step back to advance in his goal of reaching Formula 1.

A Major Challenge

At 25 years old, Herta will join the Formula 2 grid with the Hitech team. This move is risky, as it will involve competing on circuits and with Pirelli tires that are unknown to him, facing young talents who have been competing in these conditions for years. Expectations are high, and for many in the F1 paddock, this decision is crucial.

“This is probably my last chance in Formula 1, given my age and everything else,” Herta commented on this decision.

Colton Herta

Cadillac’s backing and its F1 team boss, Graeme Lowdon, were key in this choice. The American team will debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, and although they will not initially have an American driver in their two seats, Herta’s role in the team, including a testing program and at least one practice session on Friday at a grand prix, makes the company’s long-term plans clear. Herta sees this opportunity as a way of learning, preparing for when she has the opportunity to compete in Formula 1. Her goal is to familiarize herself with the circuits, the tires, and the dynamics of the category, which she considers fundamental for her development as a test driver for the team. Herta downplays the pressure of being competitive from the start, acknowledging the high level of competition in Formula 2. Despite this, his goal is clear: to win races.

Herta’s move to F2 is due to two factors: geography and the FIA’s superlicense system. American young talents often face the decision of competing in the United States, with the aim of reaching IndyCar and IMSA, or moving to Europe to compete in single-seater categories. This last option, expensive and risky, partly explains the scarcity of Americans in the F1 pyramid. The FIA’s super license system, which sets the requirements to compete in F1, has limited Herta’s opportunities. The system awards points based on position in different FIA championships. However, IndyCar, not being an FIA championship, awards fewer super license points compared to Formula 3 and Formula 2.

An example of this is that, although IndyCar is considered one of the most prestigious series, drivers are penalized by the relatively low number of superlicense points it awards. Winning the IndyCar title grants the 40 points needed for F1, but second place only grants 30, and third, 20. This has limited the prospects of Herta, who, despite being runner-up in 2024, obtained only seven superlicense points for his seventh place in this year’s IndyCar championship.

Herta has had to be patient. In 2021, she was close to participating in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix, but the negotiations did not succeed. Now, Herta considers that this long wait has been a blessing in disguise. Herta’s first race in Formula 2 with Hitech will be during the weekend of the 2026 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will also mark Cadillac’s debut in F1. Herta will compete in the sprint race in Melbourne on March 7, and in the main race on March 8.