Herta's Winning Ambition Clashes with Cadillac's F2 Development Goal

Colton Herta has set his sights on winning in his rookie FIA Formula 2 season, directly challenging his Cadillac F1 team's stated goal of a top-10 finish for his development. The American IndyCar star is embarking on a full F2 campaign with Hitech GP alongside his test driver role, viewing it as a critical step toward his Formula 1 dream.

Why it matters:

This divergence highlights the classic tension between a team's patient, long-term development plan and a driver's innate, uncompromising competitive fire. Herta's all-in move to Europe is a high-stakes gamble, and his performance will be a key indicator of both his F1 readiness and Cadillac's ability to nurture top talent for its new grand prix project.

The details:

• Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss explicitly outlined a development-focused target for Herta: "I'm looking for a top-10 finish... Really, it's [learning] tracks and tyres, and just his development to be ready for Formula 1."
• Herta's evaluation will extend beyond F2, incorporating simulator work and planned Formula 1 Free Practice 1 (FP1) sessions with the Cadillac team.
• The driver's ambition, however, is far more aggressive. Herta stated, "If the goal isn’t to win, then I don’t really see why you would do it... I want to lead sessions, I want to win pole, I want to win races."
• Early pre-season testing in Barcelona showed promise, with Herta finishing the final day fourth overall while adapting to new circuits and the specific Pirelli tires used in F2.
• Herta downplayed the idea that his extensive IndyCar experience gives him a major advantage over younger rivals, noting drivers are largely fully developed by this stage in their careers.

What's next:

The 2026 season will be a dual-track evaluation for Herta and Cadillac. His F2 results with Hitech GP will be scrutinized alongside his integration and performance in the F1 simulator and any FP1 outings. While the team views a top-10 championship finish as successful progress, Herta has made it clear that his personal metric for success is measured in victories, setting the stage for a compelling narrative throughout the year.