Colton Herta Admits First F2 Race Win Won’t Be Easy

Colton Herta will step into Formula 2 in 2026 with Hitech, targeting a future Formula 1 seat as Cadillac prepares its debut lineup alongside Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

The IndyCar frontrunner sets realistic expectations, accepting a debut victory is unlikely while he adapts to the series, its tyre demands, and F2’s tightly controlled technical package.

Herta finishes second in 2024 IndyCar and seventh in 2025. His junior résumé includes British F4 and Euroformula Open, but most experience comes from American racing.

Adapting to Pirelli compounds, thermal degradation, and delta management will be central. He expects pace parity with experienced runners and even sharp F3 graduates in the early rounds.

An exploratory Monza test in an older F2 car, run in the wet, provides initial references on braking behavior, power delivery, and tyre warm-up.

Team selection is deliberate. Hitech has been a consistent frontrunner since 2020, currently contending for the teams’ title with podium finisher Luke Browning and consistent scorer Dino Beganovic.

That competitiveness, plus a results-led culture, convinces Herta the programme can accelerate his F1 readiness through structured processes, data depth, and operational discipline.

Superlicence eligibility frames the target. Herta needs at least eighth in the F2 standings to satisfy FIA criteria and strengthen his case for a future Cadillac race seat.

Parallel to F2, he serves as a Cadillac test driver. The role provides simulator mileage, correlation work, and procedural exposure aligned with the 2026 power unit and operational frameworks.

Preparation extends beyond laps. Advice from Marcus Armstrong and Santino Ferrucci focuses on tyre usage, race execution, and the rhythm of double-header weekends under parc fermé constraints.

Short-term objectives are clear. Become competitive quickly, stabilize execution, and convert opportunities as understanding deepens. That platform, not immediate wins, best serves his F1 ambitions.

Herta frames the campaign as his final push toward F1. The combination of realism and urgency defines a programme designed to peak when the right seat becomes available.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.