A number of Formula 1 drivers have supported Colton Herta to get a grip in Europe quickly if it combines its new Cadillac Test Driver roll with a Formula 2 program.
Herta was announced on Wednesday as a Cadillac F1 test driver; The nine times Indycar winner leaves the series to take the new position. The announcement noted that his future racing program will be announced in due course, and because several F2 teams have been approached about the possible running of him, the support category is his most likely destination.
Lando Norris raced together with Herta for Carlin in MSA formula in 2015 before the couple shared a chair in British F3 the following season and believes that the Californier will not have a problem to adapt to F1 machines.
“It is probably not difficult for him, because he is good at jumping in all the different types of cars and that is something he has done all his life,” Norris said. “He is an extremely talented driver and a man I enjoyed growing up a lot with him in 2015.
“So let’s say, not difficult, because I think he is skilled enough to jump in and be fast; but one of the best in Formula 1 is what is difficult, and if that is still his goal, if his goal is still not only to come as a test driver, but in the coming years to become a Formula 1 driver and a racing driver it will of course be.
“But he is easily able to be in Formula 1, and I am looking forward to seeing him again.”
Norris also believes that Indycar has to pay more super licensing points so that someone like Herta can make the switch easier. F2 offers a higher number to the top 10 in its points and guarantees the top three a super license.
“It’s not my decision,” he said. “I think he is probably able to control a Formula 1 car and control it at an incredibly high level. It is probably better than most other drivers in the ranks and in F3 and F2 and so on. So I don’t think so [he should need to race in F2]If I was in charge.
“I think there is still a certain allowance, you have to be eligible in one way or another, I don’t think you can just be an old Billy and just pay to get in Formula 1, but Indycar thinks it’s one of the most difficult series in the world. I think it is an incredibly difficult car to drive – I have never driven the steering program – but you can all those things.
“I don’t know how many points they get in Indycar, but I would place it above the level of Formula 2.”
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Oliver Bearman raced two years in F2 before he went to F1 this year, and although he says it was F1 that “by far”, better prepared for the category, he can see the benefits of Herta experience in F2.
“That will certainly be interesting,” said Bearman. “I wish him good luck, it will be very cool to see … Of course the level is very high in Indycar, but to see him come to Europe and see how it goes, will be very nice.
“It’s a difficult one. I don’t know the details of how it works in Indycar, but if you look at a qualification or a race, it seems that they really go for it. So I hope he enjoyed that way of racing.
“Here it is a bit different. Also, if you grew up racing cars in Europe, you are used to the fact that you do a single push round and then you cool the tires immediately. That is exactly how it is, for better or for worse.
“So it will be interesting. For me it was the step from Formula 4 to Formula 3, where you went from pushing maybe five or six laps in a row than just pushing one round. It is difficult to get all the performance from one round, because you have less rhythm and less consecutive laps.
“So it’s hard. But he is clearly a very good driver, so I’m sure he will soon get around it.”
There was also support from Oscar Piastri, who won the F2 title as an alpine reserve that completed F1 tests before a year prior to his McLaren movement. The championship leader believes that there is added value to race on the F1 support card, and adds that there are restrictions on a role that only tests.
“Both have different purposes in some respects,” said Piastri. “I think it is racing in an F1 weekend next to F1, that is an important thing. His situation is a bit different because he is clearly the Cadillac test driver already, so it is not so much to get yourself for the paddock and for eye bulbs.
“I think it certainly feels very different in an F1 weekend than the racing that I did before I was in an F1 weekend, so I think that is absolutely important.
“The F1 tests, of course at the height of an F1 car is an important thing, but that testing has a limit to its use. The tires are not representative. You often do it in winter or at times when the traces are not that rubber. There are no other cars nearby, the car is old …
“There are many limits to it, but definitely get informed in an F1 car and just get used to your brain to all the different things you can change, all the things and the speed with which things happen – I am sure it will be okay comes from Indy! – But there are absolutely goals for both.”
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