Colton Herta has begun preparations for his debut F2 campaign with Hitech TGR, setting his sights on achieving competitiveness as quickly as possible in the junior single-seater series.
Hitech announced the American as their driver for the 2026 season earlier this month. Herta switches from IndyCar, where he established himself as one of the series’ leading talents, winning nine races and securing 19 podium finishes across seven seasons.
The Cadillac F1 Team recently named Herta as a test driver, and he views the move to F2 with Hitech as crucial to his ambitions of reaching motorsport’s top tier.
A necessary step forward
“It’s exciting,” said Herta on being announced as a Hitech F2 driver. “I think it’s a necessary step in what I want my progression to be as a racing driver, and hopefully as a Formula 1 driver – it’s an important step.”
“It’s a new start, it’s a fresh opportunity, it’s something new to me, so it’s exciting. But I think the main thing is whenever I am in the race car, I want to be competitive.”
The American harbours no illusions about the challenge that awaits him, acknowledging the calibre of competition he will face in the F2 championship.
“That has to be the goal, to be competitive, and try to achieve that as quickly as possible. I think it would be foolish to sit here and think that I will be on the pace right away, that I will be on the pace and ready to win in my first race,” he explained.
He admitted, “I may be older, but speed-wise, these guys are just as fast as anybody out there. I definitely know the task at hand, I know it’s going to be a tough one, but I look forward to it. I’m here to learn, here to drive and to hopefully be fast.”
Choosing the right partner
Herta emphasised that selecting the right team stood paramount to his chances of success, and he believes Hitech TGR represents the ideal environment for his development.
“I think when we were looking at teams, myself and also with Cadillac, the biggest thing is it had to be results driven,” he revealed.
The British outfit’s track record across multiple categories proved decisive in Herta’s decision-making process.
“I think Hitech checks those boxes as a professional outfit, and as you can see how this year is going and the past seasons, not only in F2 but also in Formula 3 and in F4. Basically, they seem to excel in everything and there is a reason for that,” Herta said.
“After having some meetings here, and getting to know people, the decision was made on its own. It was really simple to see that this is a professional organisation, and one that I feel will best prepare me to be ready for Formula 1.”
Learning from experience
Herta sought advice from IndyCar drivers who had previously competed in F2, gaining valuable insights into what lies ahead.
“It’s good conversations to have,” he said. “Just to understand that it is going to be different for me coming over for a whole bunch of reasons.”
“But the racing mainly is what I need to be focused on, being fast in the race car and that’s where the majority of the talk has been, on how to best prepare me before I hop in the race car.”
Herta faces one significant adjustment: adapting to the considerably shorter off-season in F2 compared to IndyCar.
“In IndyCar we are used to a pretty big off seasons, a lot of time to decompress and to look through things, and to have a clear notion of where we want to go the following year. You don’t really get that in Formula 2,” Herta noted.
“It’s a pretty quick off season and a quick turnaround, and you’re testing in the offseason as well, so really there is no off seasons for these guys and girls within the team.”
Simulator work begins
Despite Hitech’s ongoing battle for both the teams’ and drivers’ championships, Herta expressed gratitude for the team’s commitment to his preparation programme.
“I think so far Hitech has been really gracious with their time for me,” Herta added. “You have to remember they are in contention for a Championship in Formula 2, and that needs to be their main focus, and I understand that.”
“But they have been really gracious with their time during this break that F2 has, to take me under their wing, to get me prepped and going for the following year.”
Herta planned to begin familiarising himself with the F2 car in the team’s simulator, an opportunity he recognises as invaluable ahead of his first on-track running.
“But it’s early days. I just need to be understanding what I need to be doing, getting a feel on the sim for what the F2 car will feel like for when I hop into it for the first time.”
Familiar territory and new challenges
The 2026 calendar will see Herta return to several circuits he last raced at nearly a decade ago, including Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, the Red Bull Ring, Monza and Barcelona. However, the American relishes the prospect of discovering new venues equally.
“I wouldn’t say there is a track in particular that I am looking forward to,” he concluded. “I think there are some favourites that I had that I am excited to be back on, but there are also some new ones that look exciting. Just overall, excited to be here.”
