Colton Herta rules out same-day Indy 500 and F2 Montreal attempt

Colton Herta has officially ruled out the ambitious and logistically challenging attempt to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and a Formula 2 race in Montreal on the same day. The American driver, prioritizing his maiden F2 season and his role as a test driver for Cadillac's F1 project, confirmed that the unique double-header is not feasible for 2024 despite the circuits being within a two-hour flight of each other.

Why it matters:

Herta's decision underscores the intense focus required to succeed in the Formula 1 ladder system and highlights the practical limitations drivers face when juggling commitments across top-tier racing series. For a driver with his eyes firmly set on a 2026 F1 seat with Cadillac, maximizing performance in F2 takes clear precedence over a one-off, albeit legendary, IndyCar event.

The details:

• The 26-year-old was previously linked to a return with Andretti Global for this year's Indy 500, a race he knows well from his six-year IndyCar career.
• The opportunity briefly emerged after F2 reshuffled its calendar due to Middle East conflicts, adding Montreal to the schedule on the same weekend as the Indy 500.
• Herta cited the conflict with "Carb Day"—the crucial final practice session at Indianapolis—as a primary logistical hurdle.
• He stated that F2 and his duties with the Cadillac F1 team are his "clear priority" for 2024, making the Indy 500 an untenable addition.
• Despite the disappointment, Herta is enthusiastic about F2's new North American rounds in Miami and Montreal, which he did not initially expect on his schedule.

What's next:

Herta will continue his F2 campaign with Hitech, building on a points-scoring debut in Australia, with his next outing at the Miami Grand Prix support race. His path remains focused on proving himself in the junior formula to secure his planned FP1 sessions and a potential race seat with the Cadillac F1 team when it enters the championship in 2026. While he watches IndyCar races fondly, any return to the series appears off the table for the foreseeable future as he dedicates himself fully to his F1 ambitions.