Colton Herta: F2 Move in 2026 is My 'Last Shot' at F1 Dream

IndyCar star Colton Herta is making a surprising and risky move to Formula 2 for the 2026 season, declaring it his 'last shot' at achieving his long-held dream of competing in Formula 1. This decision comes despite his established success in IndyCar.

Why it matters

This dramatic career shift underscores the intense desire of drivers like Herta to reach F1. It highlights the high stakes and personal sacrifice involved, as he steps back into junior categories from a top-tier racing series to pursue this ultimate goal with the Cadillac F1 team.

The big picture

• Established IndyCar success: At just 25, Herta is a proven frontrunner in IndyCar, with nine victories and finishing second in the 2024 championship. He is sacrificing a stable and successful career path.
• Previous F1 aspirations: Herta was previously close to an AlphaTauri F1 seat in 2023, but superlicence points proved to be an insurmountable hurdle. He has been a consistent target for Andretti's F1 ambitions.
• The risk: Moving to F2 at this stage is fraught with danger. The championship is notoriously challenging, as evidenced by Ritomo Miyata's struggles after a similar high-profile switch from Super GT/Super Formula, where he finished 19th in F2.

The details

• Cadillac F1 connection: Herta has signed with the Cadillac F1 team as a test and development driver, putting him in contention for a full-time drive in 2027.
• Superlicence points: Unlike his previous attempt, superlicence points are unlikely to be an issue. Herta already has 34 points, and a top-eight finish in F2 would secure the necessary qualification.
• Herta's confidence: Despite the significant risk, Herta expressed strong self-belief, stating, "As a racing driver, you constantly are betting on yourself. I believe in myself, I believe that I’m fast enough to do it."
• Strategic move for F1 integration: The F2 paddock's proximity to F1 allows Herta to integrate into the F1 world more effectively, gain experience, and participate in testing, which would be difficult from IndyCar.

What's next

Herta views this as his