Mercedes driver highlights the importance of Colton Herta’s move to F2

Mercedes Academy driver Joshua Dürksen says the arrival of IndyCar champion Colton Herta and WEC veteran Nico Varrone in Formula 2 gives a clear benchmark for how the junior series compares with other top‑level categories. Their crossover underlines F2’s growing credibility as the final step before Formula 1.

Why it matters:

F2 sits directly beneath F1, so proving its cars can challenge IndyCar or endurance racers validates the series technically and widens its audience. Teams also gain a head‑to‑head data point for scouting, while fans enjoy a higher‑octane product.

The details:

• Colton Herta left IndyCar after nine wins to join Hitech’s F2 line‑up, finishing seventh in the feature race at Melbourne.
• Nico Varrone switched from the World Endurance Championship but failed to score points in his debut weekend.
• Dürksen, now seventh in the standings after a sprint‑race win, praised the “straight comparison” these moves provide.

What's next:

Dürksen will aim to turn his sprint win into a feature victory in Bahrain, while Herta’s adaptation will be watched by F1‑hungry teams. More cross‑discipline entries could cement F2 as a true proving ground, speeding the rise of top talent to the premier class.