It had been clear for a number of weeks that Colton Herta was ready for a switch to Formula 2, but until the team was officially confirmed, it remained a plan. Now the final piece of the puzzle is in place, with the Californian racing for Hitech in 2026 as he returns to Europe and a place on the single-seater ladder just below Formula 1.
There have been critics about IndyCar not offering enough Super License points to make such a move unnecessary, but putting that argument to rest for a moment, Herta sees clear benefits from spending time in F2 ahead of a possible future F1 opportunity.
“It seems so,” Herta tells RACER on whether F2 would give him a better chance of success compared to jumping straight out of IndyCar. “As far as the guys who have made that jump in the past, at the moment it’s almost exclusively guys who come from Formula 2. It seems like the series is set up in such a way that those guys get along very quickly.
“I remember Ollie Bearman when he got into the Ferrari, it was really impressive, I think [Kimi] Antonelli is doing great this year. Look at many of the newcomers that have emerged: they can perform quite quickly. I think this is a testament to what Formula 2 has to offer them.
“Also, in a way, it was very important for me to be fresh and race. I didn’t want to just be a test driver and have nothing to do all year but go to the tests. It’s not that exciting for me. I really wanted to be able to race against other guys, talented drivers. This was a pretty easy decision for me of, ‘Yes, let’s do this’.”
It’s also not a decision that was made lightly. Herta says he thought long and hard about the opportunity he had in front of him.
“I think the discussions started last year in the middle of the IndyCar season,” he says. “The F1 thing was about to be announced. Dan [Towriss] came to me with this opportunity to become a test driver and get my feet wet again in European motorsport.
“For me it was a really cool opportunity, something I knew I wouldn’t be able to do again.
“As far as this step is concerned, it’s trying to get to F1, it’s trying to be an F1 driver. I think at my age (25) this was really the last good shot, strong shot that I should be able to do.”
“There were a lot of discussions. It wasn’t an easy decision. Obviously, I’m leaving behind a lot of great people in IndyCar that I respect. A lot of guys that I worked with basically my entire IndyCar career, all seven seasons of it.”
“It was a hard thing to do, a hard decision to make. But for me, I really want to fight for my chance to get into Formula 1. I really want the chance to be there. It’s always been a goal of mine. It’s kind of a mutual love for IndyCars. I’ve always wanted to try to make it to Formula 1. This is how I see it. It’s my best chance.”
Herta’s last European success came in 2015-2016, when he raced in the MSA Formula (pictured), British F3 and the Euroformula Open Championship. Jakob Ebrey/Getty Images
That shot starts with a racing seat at Hitech, an F2 team just a short walk from Cadillac’s current Silverstone base in Britain. Logistically that’s a bonus for Herta, but joining a team currently competing for both the team and driver championships in F2 was of greater importance.
“There are quite a few options for teams that we looked at,” he says. “I think Hitech stands out for a number of reasons. For me, the proximity to the F1 workshop was really nice. Also in that respect, being in Britain was a big plus.
“More than that, it is results-oriented. We think they are a very strong team. They have really strong capabilities. The coaching staff I have met are the standout guys who have been in the paddock for a long time.”
“I think that’s the most important thing. It has to be results-oriented and we’ve seen what they can do. For me, I couldn’t be happier to be part of a team that is able to compete at the front and compete for wins and championships.”
Testing will begin later this year, and if all goes well with Hitech, Herta will earn the Super License points that will put it on the doorstep of F1. But for now, he even cherishes the role of test rider, being part of the sport’s newest team and an iconic American brand.
“I think people in Europe know how passionate Americans are about America,” he says. “I’m the same way. I’m very patriotic about my country. So it’s cool to have that American team with an American manufacturer.
“And besides, it’s an honor. I know Cadillac has been very invested in the program and they want it to succeed. And they want it to perform well. From some conversations I’ve had with people from Cadillac and GM, they’re very excited to get into Formula 1. Even though it’s new, it’s fresh for them. I think they want to stay around, be competitive and win.”
“So from what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising when you look at the investment that’s being made and how everything is going. So I hope it all pays off. But for me, as an American, it’s really cool to work with a Formula 1 team that is truly American.”
The partnership of a young, proven American IndyCar driver working his way through the ranks of the American F1 team could prove to be a huge moment for motorsports in the United States, and Herta is feeling the support from fans. But he knows that only results can really make the move a success.
“A lot of people have said a lot of nice things on the internet… Well, a lot of people have said some not so nice things too, but you have to compare the good with the bad!” he says.
“But I think it’s cool because I would really like to go to Formula 1. And a lot of it is also for my country. I think people would like to see an American back in Formula 1. But the most important thing is that we have to be good. We have to be strong. To be successful, I have to be fast. So taking these steps is really crucial and very important.”
“But it’s cool. I enjoyed watching COTA last weekend and seeing how busy it was there, full of American fans. It’s cool. It’s great that we have three races as well. I know a lot of other countries are probably very jealous of that, but it feels very special to me.”
If that alone seems special, imagine what it would be like to see Herta succeed in F2 one day in the future and appear on the United States Grand Prix grid for Cadillac…
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