Colton Herta to Formula 2: The Right Move?

Colton Herta

Rumours have been circling for the last couple of weeks, with Will Power taking over the Andretti seat in IndyCar and with Colton Herta, notably without an IndyCar drive next year, that the American driver is stepping into the world of European single-seaters.

It seems all but confirmed that Colton Herta is going to Formula 2.

Rumours are that Colton Herta has a drive in F2, first with Prema, but I have also seen Rodin flying around. (To me, this seems more likely with Alex Dunne and Amaury Cordeel, both potentially moving on from the series.) This seems to be the move to coincide with the Test Driver role with Cadillac, confirmed on social media and by the team earlier in the month.

With this news all but announced, one question has been on my mind: Is going to Formula 2 the right move?

I can tell you why he is going to Formula 2 because, for whatever reason, the FIA put more Super license points in the ladder to F1, F2 and F3, in comparison to a battle for IndyCar. There are naturally more points on offer, with the top three drivers having enough for a Super License, contrasted to just the top driver in IndyCar and fellow world championship series, Formula E.

 With the Super License points as they are, Colton Herta is currently sitting at 35 Super License points (1 in 2023, 30 in 2024 and 4 in 2025). The total of Super License points needed is 40 for a License, so even with 4 FP1 sessions in 2026 (1 point for each session), this still leaves Herta with a lack of points for a Super License.

This is where things get sticky for me because even though Herta is a great IndyCar driver, this does not equal a good Formula 2 driver.

You just must look at Ritomo Miyata, who won his Super Formula season in 2023 and was 3^rd in ELMS in 2024, to see that the transition is not always easy. Miyata finished in 19^th in his first season and is currently 17^th in his second season of Formula 2, so he has not gained any further Super License points.

Obviously, we don’t know how Colton Herta will fare in the championship, but if it is Super License points, he needs, he will need to finish at least tenth to confirm what he needs, and Formula 2 is not just a walk in the park. Formula 2 is a competitive championship, with drivers stepping up on the ladder from F3 and drivers continuing with Formula 2, for their second, third or fourth years ever.

There will be new tracks, new timings, and new driving styles. It will be a lot to learn for Herta, especially as he has not been in formula machinery since 2016. Even then, these were Formula 3 cars. Of course, Herta is going to have support. He is going to have sim support, the best trainers in the world, and Cadillac itself, which would love to have an American in their car. Everything will be thrown at him.

So, will Colton Herta succeed? Or fail? Will he even join Formula 2 at all? I guess we will have to wait to find out.

Written by Amy