IndyCar driver Colton Herta has definitively set his sights on a future in Formula 1. The young American committed himself to the future Cadillac team in early September. While seasoned drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez will occupy the permanent seats, Herta is focusing on testing and reserve opportunities, as well as a debut in Formula 2. Lando Norris, who has raced with Herta in the past, emphasizes that an IndyCar driver can dominate the junior classes.
Colton Herta’s move to Formula 2 raised many questions about the abilities of IndyCar drivers and to what extent these can be translated to European racing classes. Lando Norris has no doubt that Herta will excel in the ‘little brother’ of the premier class. “He is probably capable of racing at a very high level in Formula 1,” the Brit assured IndyStar. “That’s why there’s a good chance he’s much better than most drivers in Formula 2. If it were up to me, he would never have had to race there.”
‘IndyCar Level is Higher than Formula 2’
“IndyCar is one of the toughest series in the world,” Norris clarified. “I think it’s an incredibly tough car to drive. I’ve driven it myself and you naturally notice that the level of those drivers is incredibly high. So I don’t know how many super license points they get in IndyCar, but I estimate that it’s above the level of Formula 2.” However, Herta must first make an impression in the junior ranks before he gets opportunities in the premier class.”
Previous Experience in European Circuits
Incidentally, a stint in Formula 2 will not be the first time the 25-year-old American has ventured onto European circuits. Herta raced in the British MSA Formula as Lewis Hamilton‘s teammate back in 2015. He then competed in the EuroFormula Series in 2016, racing on circuits such as Spa, Monza, and Barcelona. As a result, the transition to Formula 2 is likely to be less of a leap into the unknown than initially expected.
