Recently, it became clear that Colton Herta makes the bold move from IndyCar to F2 in 2026. Instead of staying in IndyCar, the American took a risk to step back down to F2. After leaving the Andretti team in IndyCar, Herta joins Cadillac F1 Team as a test driver, which he can hope brings him closer to the dream of an F1 seat. Several F1 drivers weighted in on the risky move while praising Herta’s racing skills.
Herta has plenty of racing experience, both in IndyCar and previously in the European MSA Formula series. Although the driver has been racing in IndyCar since 2018, the American was previously teammates with Lando Norris. The teammates remain familiar after their time in the MSA Formula Championship in 2015. Norris was asked about Herta’s interesting move from IndyCar to F2, and expressed his support for the driver, stating:
“I mean, it’s tricky. How difficult is it? It’ll probably not [be] difficult for him, because he’s good at jumping in all different types of cars, and that’s something he’s done his whole life. He’s an extremely talented driver, and [someone] I enjoyed a lot growing up with in 2015.
Not difficult, I think he’s skilled enough to jump in anything and be quick, but being one of the best in Formula 1 is what’s difficult, and if that’s still his goal, if his goal is still to not just come in as a test driver, but in the next few years to become a Formula 1 driver and a race driver then, of course, it gets tricky. But, yeah, he’s easily capable of potentially being in Formula 1 and those kind of things, and I look forward to hopefully seeing him here. It’s not my decision. I think he’s probably easily capable of driving a Formula 1 car and driving it at an incredibly high level.“
Norris claims Herta is “better than most other drivers that are in the ranks”
Norris expressed the intensity of IndyCar while praising his former teammate, stating:
“He’s probably better than most other drivers that are in the ranks and coming up in F3 and F2 itself. I don’t think so, if I was the boss. I think there’s still a certain allowance of, you know, you have to qualify in some way, I don’t think you can just be an ‘Old Billy’ and just give them to whoever you want in Formula 1 but IndyCar, I think, is one of the toughest series in the world.“
The McLaren driver continued on to bring up the important factor of Super License points. In order to get a seat in Formula 1, a driver must reach 40 points. The point system awards different amounts of points for each championship classification.
This system allows a Formula 2 driver to be awarded more points than an IndyCar driver. If a driver finishes first, second, or third, in the F2 Championship they receive 40 points. In IndyCar, the driver only receives 40 points if they finish first. If they sit second in the Championship they earn 30 points, and if they sit third, they earn 20 points.
There could be several reasons behind the big move. However, one comes from not having enough Super License points for an F1 seat. 25-year-old Herta currently has 34 points, putting him 6 points behind the magic number.
“I think it’s an incredibly tough car to drive, and I’ve driven it myself, but you can tell all those things, the level of all these drivers is incredibly high. So, I don’t know how many [FIA Super Licence] points they get in IndyCar, but I would put it above the level of Formula 2, in a way. They [IndyCar drivers] should [get more points]. Not my decision at the end of the day and I can’t change it.” Norris added.
Making the move to European Racing
Haas driver Oliver Bearman was also asked about Herta moving into Formula 2. The Briton, who competed in F2 last year, gave his best wishes to the driver, stating:
“That will be interesting for sure. I wish him the best of luck, it will be really cool to see… Of course the level is very high in IndyCar, but to see him come to Europe and see how he gets on is going to be really nice. F1 testing [helped me than F2 campaign]. It’s a tough one. I don’t know the specifics of how it works in IndyCar, but when you look at a qualifying or a race, it seems like they’re really going for it. So I hope he’s enjoyed that way of racing. Over here, it’s a bit different.“
The 20-year-old continued on to explain his own experience racing in junior formula categories. Bearman took note of the differences of racing in Europe and in the Americas, expressing:
“Also, having grown up racing cars in Europe, you’re used to the fact that you do a single push lap and then you cool the tyres down straight away. That’s just how it is, for better or for worse. So it’ll be interesting. For me, it was the step from Formula 4 to Formula 3, where you went from pushing maybe five or six laps in a row to then just pushing one lap. It’s tough to get all of the performance out of one lap, because you have less rhythm and less consecutive laps. So it’s tough. But he’s clearly a very good driver, so I’m sure he’ll get around it in no time.”
Different purposes in F1 Testing and Feeder series
Furthermore, Championship Leader, Oscar Piastri, stated that being an F1 test driver and racing in feeder series such as F2, can have vastly different purposes.
“Both [F1 testing and feeder series] have different purposes in some ways. I think being on an F1 weekend, racing alongside F1, that’s an important thing. His situation is a little bit different because he’s obviously the Cadillac test driver already, so it’s not so much about getting yourself in front of the paddock and in front of eyeballs. I think definitely being on an F1 weekend feels quite different to the racing I did before I was on an F1 weekend, so I think that’s definitely important. The F1 testing, obviously getting up to speed in an F1 car is an important thing, but that testing has a limit to its uses.“
Making the stark jump from IndyCar to F2 can be immensely difficult as it is not something racing drivers often do. However, Piastri believes that Herta will be alright, considering his effort in IndyCar.
“The tyres are not representative. You’re often doing it in winter or at times when the tracks are not that rubbered in. There’s not other cars around, the car’s old…there’s a lot of limits to it, but certainly getting up to speed in an F1 car and just getting your brain used to all the different things you can change. All the things and the speed at which things happen – I’m sure he’ll be fine, coming from Indy! – but there’s definitely kind of purpose to both.”
IndyCar experience leading to F2 braveness
Additionally, F1 rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto, candidly stated that while he is not personally familiar with Herta, he knows the IndyCar series is tough. With several F1 drivers expressing their belief in him, it will be interesting to see how Herta adapts to the feeder series.
“Look, I’m going to be very honest, I don’t know him so much. I don’t know him at all, so I’m not going to say I want to drive with him because I don’t know him. I think he has a lot of experience from IndyCar and I think it’s a very strong series as well. So he will be able to adapt and do well if he’s as strong in Indy as I believe he is.”
