Colton Herta rejects Cadillac's top 10 F2 target: 'I want to win'

Colton Herta has publicly set his sights higher than his new F1 team's stated goal for him, declaring his aim is to win in Formula 2, not just finish in the top ten. The nine-time IndyCar race winner, who is Cadillac's test driver for its 2026 F1 entry and will race for Hitech in F2 this season, believes a winning mindset is the only approach, regardless of the challenge ahead.

Why it matters:

Herta's ambition directly challenges the more conservative public target set by his employer, Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss. This highlights the internal drive of a driver making a high-profile, late-career switch to the European ladder system with the ultimate goal of reaching Formula 1. His performance will be a key indicator of both his adaptability and Cadillac's driver development strategy as they build toward their grand prix debut.

The details:

• Winning Mindset: When asked about Cadillac's target of a top-ten finish in the F2 standings, Herta was clear: "If the goal isn’t to win, then I don’t really see why you would do it." He dismissed a gradual improvement approach, stating his aim is to lead sessions, take pole positions, and win races immediately.
• Testing Promise: Early signs are positive. During pre-season testing in Barcelona, Herta progressed from inside the top ten on day one to an impressive P4 by the final day, showing rapid adaptation to the car and tires.
• Downplaying Experience: Despite being a seasoned winner in IndyCar and IMSA, Herta played down the advantage his experience gives him over the younger field, suggesting drivers are near their peak pace by this stage in their careers regardless of age.
• Valuable Teammate: He highlighted the benefit of having an experienced F2 teammate in Ritomo Miyata, who is entering his third season in the championship, as a crucial resource for his own learning curve.
• Broader Evaluation: Cadillac will not judge his F1 readiness on F2 results alone. His development will also include significant simulator work and planned FP1 outings in the actual Cadillac F1 car during the 2026 season.

What's next:

The 2026 F2 season begins in Melbourne alongside the Australian Grand Prix, with the first Sprint race on March 7. All eyes will be on Herta to see if his winning mentality translates into results against a dedicated field of F1 hopefuls. Simultaneously, his integration into the Cadillac F1 program through simulator sessions and future FP1 runs will be just as critical in evaluating his potential path to a full-time grand prix seat.