Cadillac F1 hopeful details 'eye-opening' experience

Colton Herta has detailed his maiden Formula 2 season has been an "eye-opening" experience as he targets a promotion to F1.

The American made the switch from IndyCar to the European single-seater ladder this year, racing for Hitech in F2 while serving as Cadillac's test and development driver. 

The programme is designed to prepare Herta for a potential race seat with the team's fledgling F1 operation, with the 2026 campaign also including FP1 outings and extensive simulator work.

It has not been a straightforward transition, however. Herta sits 16th in the standings with 26 points, no wins and no podiums, with qualifying proving a particular weakness throughout his rookie campaign.

"Eye-opening, I guess," Herta told Racer of his time in F2 so far. "I think there are good things and bad things about every series, and I think I've found it quite challenging and it's been interesting so far."

Herta highlighted the Pirelli tyre as the single biggest adjustment he has had to make, noting that the rubber behaves very differently to the Firestone construction he grew accustomed to in IndyCar. 

The absence of tyre blankets in F2 has made managing the tyres from cold an especially demanding skill to master, though Herta believes the challenge will ultimately serve him well.

"I would say the tyre [is the biggest challenge],” he said. “I think the Pirelli, specifically coming from cold, without having the tire blankets, it's quite particular. 

“If anything, it kind of sets you up nicely because it's easier when you get to Formula 1, because once you have the tyre blankets, it's all about maintaining temperature, not bringing it from whatever it might be, 30, 40 degrees, to what it gets to.

"So if anything, I think it simplifies it a little bit. It's good to have that and be hyper-focused on it, because once you get to Formula 1, I think that aspect of it actually gets easier."