It’s not every day one of IndyCar‘s biggest names trades race wins for uncertainty, but the Cadillac-backed Colton Herta move to Formula 2 has quickly become the biggest gamble of his career.
Cadillac’s arrival in Formula 1 opened a new pathway for Herta to break into the European racing world after becoming a household name in America. Following several unsuccessful attempts from his IndyCar rivals to receive a Super Licence exemption, the American opted for a different route. Herta would join the 2026 F2 grid to compete in a season of the coveted feeder series. Racing alongside Ritomo Miyata at Hitech, all Herta needed was an eighth-place finish in the championship standings.
But as the series heads into a prolonged Summer break, Herta’s debut F2 season has looked anything but ideal. From a podium lost on the final lap to the countless qualifying blunders, Herta finds himself 16th in the standings. Importantly, 39 points away from Laurens Van Hoepen, who currently occupies eighth in the standings.
While the numbers paint a bleak picture, they don’t fully explain why Herta has struggled to establish himself in F2. A combination of qualifying woes, missed opportunities, and Hitech’s inconsistent form has left the American with a mountain to climb ahead of an F1 dream.
A difficult adjustment for Herta
The 26-year-old, who had been extremely competitive on American circuits, arrived in F2 as a major outlier on the grid. But many had faith that the American could translate the immense pace shown in IndyCar to F2. With his incredible talent and Hitech coming off an impeccable 2025 F2 season, the pair were tipped to be a force to be reckoned with across the season.
However, as the season has unfolded, that expectation failed to materialise. An unfortunate snapshot of Herta’s rookie campaign came in the opening round at Albert Park, where the American brought out the first red flag of the F2 season after making heavy contact with the barriers. The incident amounted to nothing; however, it proved to be an early indication of the challenges he would face this season.
One of the biggest struggles for the rookie has been qualifying. Poor performances on Fridays this season have seen the American start both the sprint and feature races on the back foot. His qualifying struggles have forced Herta to fight through the field, managing tyre degradation and avoiding drama frequently seen in the series.
Barcelona looked likely to be a turning point for the young American with his first top 10 grid start. Starting third for Saturday’s sprint race, Herta looked likely to score his maiden F2 podium. But a last-lap lock-up saw the rookie passed by Nikola Tsolov for the final step on the podium. Ultimately, he ended the race in an “unacceptable” fifth place.
Moments like these have ultimately prevented the American from building any sustained momentum. Instead of stringing together the consistent point finishes required to climb the championship standings, Herta has found himself chasing the ground lost across previous rounds, leaving his Super Licence hopes hanging by an increasingly thin thread.
Hitech struggles intensified
Whilst Herta has faced his own hiccups across the season, his results have been exacerbated by his team’s struggles. Hitech are one of the most well-known and reputable teams in the feeder series ladder. Across their time in series like F2 and Formula 3, they have hosted the likes of F1’s Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.
Last season’s pairing of Luke Browning and Dino Beganovic helped the team sail to a second-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship. Ultimately, setting the team up for a competitive 2026 season.
But this has been far from reality so far this season.
The team’s current position is a stark contrast to the front-running outfit that entered the campaign with high expectations. Rather than fighting for victories, Hitech has struggled to consistently unlock the pace needed to challenge the championship’s leading teams, leaving both of its drivers on the back foot.
Herta’s results reflect that reality. While the American has endured costly mistakes of his own, he sits just eight points behind experienced teammate Miyata in the drivers’ standings. This gap suggests a disappointing rookie campaign cannot be attributed solely to his adaptation to F2. With Hitech’s lack of competitiveness playing an equally significant role in his performances.
But with Super License points awarded on championship position rather than circumstance, Herta’s struggles, regardless of their cause, continue to push his F1 dreams further out of reach.
How does this impact Cadillac’s future plans?
Not only has Herta’s F2 campaign fallen short of expectations, but it may also have altered his standing in Cadillac’s long-term F1 plans. The American has long been viewed as a natural fit for the General Motors-backed outfit. His nationality, IndyCar prestige and existing ties to Cadillac make him an obvious candidate for a future race seat.
It appears likely that Cadillac will favour the experience of Valtteri Bottas or Sergio Pérez beyond its debut campaign. However, reports suggest Cadillac could part ways with one of its drivers at the end of the season. Importantly leaving a free seat within the new team for the upcoming season. Whilst it was once tipped to be Herta’s, his struggles have allegedly prompted the team to look at a surprise contender.
According to Motorsport España, the reigning F3 champion Rafael Camara is in the sights of the American outfit. The Ferrari-backed driver has continued to make waves in the Feeder Series ladder across several years.
Unlike his fellow rookie Herta, Camara has enjoyed a rather successful first F2 campaign. The Invicta driver has already secured two feature race victories and three additional podium finishes. The Brazilian sits third in the standings, 22 points behind championship leader Tsolov, and two points behind Gabriele Mini in second.
Importantly for Cadillac, Camara has already surpassed the 40-point threshold needed to obtain a Super License. Providing Cadillac with a compelling reason to have the Brazilian as its first preference should Herta’s season continue to derail.
Is there still time for Herta?
Whilst it currently looks grim for Herta’s Super License charge, the American still has time to shift the narrative of the season. Once the summer break concludes, F2 will return to the Italian Grand Prix to start an important run home. With five rounds and ten races until the final chequered flag of 2026, Herta has a chance to close the gap to eighth and remind those watching of his true talent.
The month-long break serves as an opportunity for Herta and Hitech to work together to fix the small issues that have plagued the first half of its campaign. In a series in which anything can happen, and usually does, Herta’s F1 dream is far from over.
But as the rumour mill continues to circulate, Herta must start to showcase the talent that landed him on the edge of an F1 seat soon. Not only to secure the coveted Super License points, but to remind Cadillac why they invested in him in the first place.
READ MORE: F2: Who has the championship momentum into summer break?
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