Herta to F2: The Risky Path of American Talent to F1

Colton Herta, one of the brightest promises of American motorsport and IndyCar star, is betting on his talent in an unusual way: he’s taking a step back to move forward. In 2026, the Californian driver will compete in Formula 2, the main feeder series for Formula 1. This decision, which will see him on the Formula 2 grid at 25 years old (he will turn 26 after the first race of the season), with the Hitech team, is a bold and risky step in the world of modern motorsport. After years in the ladder that took him to IndyCar, Herta returns to school. He will face unknown circuits, complex Pirelli tires, and a group of young talents with years of experience in those conditions.

A Key Step for Herta

Expectations are high, perhaps unrealistic, given the magnitude of the challenge. For many in the F1 paddock, it’s an “all or nothing” decision. The fact that Herta could struggle in a field of significantly younger drivers would be difficult to handle, and F2 is a series known for the difficulty of maintaining consistency throughout a season.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to learn about cars, tires, tracks, etc., and really prepare myself for when I get the opportunity in Formula 1 to be able to succeed”.

Colton Herta

Herta, who already has a foot in the door of F1 as a test driver for the Cadillac team, is aware of the task ahead. “I see it as my last chance in Formula 1, given my age and everything else,” he declared to Alofoke Deportes. “It’s something new for me, something to work on and learn. I’m excited.” Cadillac’s support and that of its F1 team boss, Graeme Lowdon, was key in the decision. The American team is a few months away from its debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. While the initial desire to enter the sport with an American driver in one of its two seats was not fulfilled, opting for the experience of race winners Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, Herta’s prominent role within the team, which will include a testing program and at least one Friday practice session at a grand prix, leaves no doubt about the company’s long-term plans for him.

Herta downplayed the suggestion that the pressure is to be competitive and a title contender from the start. “It’s a difficult championship,” she said. “There are extremely good teams, very smart engineers. Everyone has been doing it for a long time.” The move of Herta to F2 arises from two peculiarities of modern motorsport: one based on geography and the other on the FIA’s superlicense system. Young American karting talents face a difficult decision at a young age: compete in the United States, through championships that lead directly to IndyCar and the IMSA endurance championship, or move to Europe and face the open-wheel racing ladder there. The latter is an expensive and incredibly risky option, which partly explains why there are relatively few Americans in the F1 pyramid. Then came the FIA super license system, which sets the basic requirement for entering Formula 1 and has kept Herta at bay for a while. The system awards different points depending on the final positions in various FIA championship series; it was originally implemented so that drivers with limited experience or success in lower categories could not simply buy a seat on the grid.

Many have complained about how poorly IndyCar, a championship that does not belong to the FIA, is weighted compared to the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships. McLaren driver and 2025 title contender, Lando Norris, spoke about this superlicense rarity when asked about Herta’s possible move to F2 last month.

While IndyCar is widely considered one of the toughest and most prestigious racing series in the world, with a Triple Crown event (the Indianapolis 500) as its most important race, its drivers are penalized by the relatively few FIA superlicense points awarded by the championship in a system largely geared towards favoring FIA competition. An IndyCar title victory awards the full 40 points needed for F1 eligibility, but second place awards only 30 and third only 20; compared to Formula 2, where the top three receive the full 40. That sharp drop has limited Herta’s prospects. Herta has also had to be incredibly patient. In 2021, it seemed that he was about to participate in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix when Michael Andretti considered a deal to buy Sauber, but both the test and the purchase ultimately failed. Herta always felt that he was the most likely name to accompany Andretti to F1, and continued to be so when the former McLaren driver was sidelined as General Motors increased its stake to full commitment, which now includes a plan to compete with Cadillac engines built in the United States by the end of the decade. Now, fully integrated into the operation of the eleventh F1 team, Herta considers his long wait a blessing in disguise. Herta’s debut in Formula 2 with Hitech will take place during the weekend of the 2026 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will also be Cadillac’s first in F1. Herta will compete in the sprint race in Melbourne on March 7, before the main race on March 8.