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Colton Herta May Have Underestimated IndyCar Challenge, Says F2 Boss
Highlights
- Colton Herta struggles in first full Formula 2 season
- Herta ranks 19th in 2026 F2 drivers’ standings
- F2 weekend format, with limited track time, poses challenges
- Final Qatar and Abu Dhabi races expected despite tensions
- Herta aims for Formula 1 by 2028, skips second F2 year
- Herta works with Hitech and Cadillac’s F1 development program
Colton Herta’s first full Formula 2 season proves tougher than expected, with series boss Bruno Michel suggesting the American may have underestimated the step from IndyCar.
The 26-year-old, an IndyCar frontrunner for seven seasons, returned to Europe in 2026 to reboot his Formula 1 pursuit after early stints in F3 and other junior categories.
Herta races with Hitech while serving Cadillac’s nascent F1 project as a test and development driver, aiming to gather experience to step up to the Formula 1 grid.
He sits 19th in the standings, with incidents and inconsistent qualifying limiting progress and compounding the deficit created by unfamiliar tyres, procedures, and compact support-series schedules.
Herta is 19th in the 2026 F2 standings after a season of incidents and stalled progress.
Michel highlights F2’s compressed format: a 45‑minute practice and a 30‑minute qualifying precede two races, leaving minimal runway for setup work, tyre understanding, and track acclimatisation.
Unlike IndyCar’s longer windows, F2 demands immediate execution. Drivers must nail out‑lap prep and peak tyre grip on a narrow track window, punishing any hesitation or traffic misjudgment.
Bruno Michel says Herta may have “underestimated the difference” between IndyCar and F2.
Michel still expects improvement as mileage accumulates, though Herta voices uncertainty around the closing flyaways given regional tensions affecting Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Michel maintains both rounds remain on the calendar, so Hitech targets cleaner weekends, sharper qualifying peaks, and race management that converts opportunities without exposing Herta to avoidable risk.
Despite regional tensions, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still expected to proceed, according to Michel.
Looking ahead, Herta signals reluctance to commit to a second F2 year unless Cadillac deems it essential, instead targeting a pathway to Formula 1 by 2028.
The campaign underlines how difficult transferring IndyCar pedigree to Europe’s ladder can be, where tyres, formats, and track time differ significantly. For context, some drivers actively avoid the Formula 2 Championship.
Visual Summary
Herta’s Steepest Climb: From IndyCar Hope to F2 Hardship
“I think he underestimated the difference between IndyCar and F2.”
– Bruno Michel, FIA F2
– Bruno Michel, FIA F2
7
Years a Frontrunner
IndyCar
IndyCar
19th
Current F2
Driver Standing
Driver Standing
Limited practice, crashes and a new weekend format have made Europe’s return much tougher than planned.
Can Herta conquer the mountain… or will this be just a lesson on adaptation?
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
