Colton Herta Faces 'Back to School' Challenge in F2, Says Series Boss

Colton Herta is trading his established IndyCar career for a shot at Formula 1 by joining the 2026 Formula 2 grid with Hitech. As Cadillac's official test driver, the move is a calculated gamble to secure the necessary Super License points. F2 CEO Bruno Michel believes Herta's racecraft is a significant advantage, but warns that the series' unique format and Herta's lack of recent junior single-seater experience present formidable hurdles.

Why it matters:

Herta's high-profile shift from a top-line IndyCar seat to F2 is a rare and risky move with major implications. It represents a critical test case for a driver attempting to re-enter the F1 feeder system, and his performance will directly influence Cadillac's driver lineup decisions for their 2026 F1 debut. The outcome could either pave a new path to F1 for seasoned drivers or serve as a cautionary tale.

The details:

F2 CEO Bruno Michel outlined a clear set of pros and cons for Herta's unconventional career move, highlighting the balance between his experience and the challenges of adapting to a new environment.

• The Advantages (Experience): Michel points to Herta's maturity and developed racecraft from nine IndyCar wins as a significant edge over younger drivers coming directly through the junior ranks.
• Familiar Chassis: Herta's years driving a Dallara chassis in IndyCar provide a baseline familiarity, as F2 is also a single-make series using cars from the Italian manufacturer.
• The Challenges (Adaptation):
  • Weekend Format: The compressed F2 weekend format, featuring only one 45-minute practice session, will be a major shock compared to the more generous track time in IndyCar.
  • New Fundamentals: Herta must master the Pirelli tires, which behave very differently from his Firestones, and relearn braking and throttle application for the F2 car.
  • Missing F3 Stepping Stone: Michel emphasized that modern F3 is "extremely strong preparation" for F2, a crucial step in learning the operational nuances that Herta has bypassed.

What's next:

Herta himself has called the move "back to school," acknowledging the steep learning curve ahead. His entire 2026 season with Hitech will be a performance audition for the Cadillac F1 team. A strong finish in the championship to secure his Super License points would likely put him in the pole position for a race seat in 2027, while a struggle could seriously jeopardize his long-held Formula 1 ambitions.