Colton Herta facing 'bizarre career path' after overcoming initial fears

Colton Herta recognises he has chosen "a bizarre career path" as he builds up to his quest to race in Formula 1, a route he did not want to head down initially.

Now 25, and after seven seasons competing in IndyCar, collecting nine victories, an additional 11 podiums, and finishing runner-up in 2024, last year, Herta announced he would target F1.

To hopefully accumulate the required number of FIA Super Licence points, the American will drive for Hitech in F2 this year, whilst he will also serve as test driver for the new Cadillac F1 team.

Herta insists the reaction to his decision to quit IndyCar and pursue his F1 dream has been forward-looking.

"From the team side, the management side, the owner side of F2, they've all been extremely positive and welcoming," said Herta, speaking to The New York Times. "I want to do well. I think they all want me to do well, also. I guess time will tell how we do.

"It is a bizarre career path, I won't deny that. It's very rare. I think a lot of people are going to be watching it with interest. From my side of things, it's pretty clear I want to get to Formula 1. I see this as my best shot at doing it."

Herta

Herta concedes that when the proposal to do F2 was first aired, it was one he gave short shrift.

But over time, and after speaking with his father, Bryan, a former winner in CART and IndyCar, and who twice won the Indianapolis 500 with his own team, the planted seed slowly developed, until it became clear it was the route to take.

"I think at first, when it was brought up, I was like, 'No, I'm a professional racing driver'," he said. "I don't want to go into a junior category at 25 years old.

"Then you talk about it, and I was talking about it with my dad, trying to see, 'What are the positives? Why would they want me to do this?', and I looked at the schedule and whatnot. It was a really helpful transition."

Herta appreciated the fact that during his junior years, in 2015 and 2016, in particular, he raced in Europe, competing in the MSA Formula Championship, Euroformula Open Championship, Spanish and British F3, all with Carlin, albeit many years ago.

"It looked like, 'Hey, I've driven on a lot of these tracks, but it's been a decade. The tracks have changed,'" he added. "Obviously, I've never driven on Pirelli tyres before in any capacity. It can be quite tricky.

"At that point, as well, I'm thinking it's quite tricky to learn those tyres, from what I'd heard.

"But once we talked about it and thought about what the positives were, it was an easier decision to make."

As to people's perceptions of what he is trying to achieve, he said: "I'm not really worried about what a lot of people think about this career path and what they're judging me on, if it's positive or negative.

"That's solely just because this is what I want to do. I want to get to Formula 1. At this point, this is my best chance, and I've got to fight for it. That's what this move is showing."