The arrival of Colton Herta in Formula 2 has stirred the paddock. The former IndyCar driver is gunning for a seat in Formula 1 and last year, as an American racing talent, linked up with the new Cadillac team. In the shadow of regular drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, however, he first has to rack up the necessary FIA Super Licence points in Formula 2. According to F2 CEO Bruno Michel, several teams were lining up to sign the American.
Colton Herta is an established name on the IndyCar circuit; the young American has nine race wins to his credit, but in 2026 he makes the notable switch to Formula 2. That decision is driven primarily by his ambition to reach Formula 1. In the feeder category he hopes to accumulate enough FIA Super Licence points to take the step up to the top tier. He has tied himself to Hitech TGR, although the offer on the table for the 24-year-old Herta was enormous.
“I haven’t had any negative reactions from the teams,” Bruno Michel said in an interview with RN365. “I think they all realise this is very important for our championship, because it will bring us a lot of attention, especially in America. We’re not very well known there because we don’t race there. Colton’s presence will of course help with that.”
‘Curious how he’ll get on’
Herta has long been regarded as one of the biggest American talents in motorsport. As Cadillac’s development driver he’s also being primed for a seat in Formula 1. That prospect made him even more sought-after in Formula 2. According to Michel, several teams actively vied for his signature. “I know there were a few teams that tried to sign him,” he revealed. “There was a substantial fight between different teams before he decided to choose Hitech. So I think it’s all very positive; I hear nobody complaining.”
The arrival of Colton Herta automatically raises questions about how he will compare to the experienced Formula 2 drivers. The American is relatively old compared with his rivals. Dutchman Richard Verschoor, who last year raced his fifth season in Formula 2, is a few months younger than Herta. Michel sees that gap in age and experience as an interesting element. “There is, of course, a difference in experience between all these drivers, and that’s good, because we can always use that as a reference point,” he concluded. “I’m genuinely very curious how Colton will do, because it’s also a fairly new situation for us.”
