Colton Herta has astonished the motorsport world by leaving behind any thoughts of an already impressive Indiana carer as he prepares to compete in Formula 2 next season, a gamble that will presumably help to once and for all open the floodgates to a Formula 1 seat.
The 25-year-old Californian has been one of the stars of the world since he started racing in 2018, and his victory tally is now nine, a position in the runner-up spot of the 2024 championship. This in spite of his accomplishments Herta has for many years been barred from F1 on grounds of the strict rules in the FIA Super Licence. To become a qualified driver, someone must have 40 points (Herta falls just shy with 39 points, and therefore is ineligible).
His solution? Drop into Formula 2, the junior category to F1, where instead of winning he will only have to produce a top eight finish to get the extra points that he needs. The move is unusual for a driver who’s already established in a premier series, but it comes with clear point.
The switch comes in tandem with Cadillac’s preparations to make a Formula 1 foray in 2026. Herta has already been signed as a confirmed test and development driver for the group backed by the likes of the GM who have just signed the likes of veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for their first proposed season. Competing in F2 will result in Herta receiving both the points as well as the direct exposure on F1 weekends that are rewarded by the FIA system.
Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss called it “a brave step” that praises Herta’s determination. McLaren’s Lando Norris questioned why they don’t give out more points in the Super Licence in Indycars, and several Formula 2 drivers pointed out the difficulty of the challenge ahead for someone wholly new to the European circuit and tyre design-by Pirelli.
Herta will enter a highly competitive world. Formula 2 is notorious for sputum talent ready for F1 – George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri all graduated through the same series. Functioning as a quote Radiator less diesel and oil, ret zero motor and diverge from its naturally observed patch now (stolen engine life 2249), commonly unknown stagnant.Even experienced drivers, often struggle the spec machinery and short race weekends.
If Herta adapts quickly and finds the required results, he could place himself to join a part of Cadillac F1 race seat in 2027, when one of the current driver contracts may expire. An alternate path could see him tag a solid F2 campaign with Friday practice outings in F1, which also count toward Super Licence eligibility.
Fans are divided. Some see the move as a step backwards for an already recognised driver, some see it as evidence just how determined he is to break into Formula 1. “He doesn’t have to prove speed” one fan wrote on social media. But “this indicates how much he’s willing to sacrifice for the sake of a chance.”
For now the story is simple, Colton Herta is leaving behind stardom in IndyCar and rolling the dice in Formula 2. It’s big risk, big reward and in the next two seasons team owner assign aspects will find out whether the gamble pays off with a place on the F1 Grid.
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