Colton Herta refuses to let F1 dream die despite major F2 struggles

Colton Herta says his focus is still "getting to F1", despite a disappointing first season in FIA Formula 2. 

Herta left IndyCar to follow his dream of making it to grand prix racing in 2026, and joined the Hitech F2 team to build up experience on Pirelli tyres and within a European style of racing, but it has been a poor season.

Herta has just 26 points to his name thus far, with a best of fifth in the reversed-grid Barcelona Sprint race, where he was third on the grid, and has made clear that he does not intend to return in 2027. 

He has supplemented his running in FIA F2 with FP1 practice outings for Cadillac in F1, doing so in Barcelona, Hungary, Italy, and at one other race to be announced, although it will likely be Austin. 

Herta still does not have enough points to qualify for the required FIA superlicence, with the American currently on 38 points, through his IndyCar performances between 2023-2025, plus points earned during his FP1 outings.

He will lose one point for his 10th place finish in 2023 in IndyCar at the end of this season as the three-year rolling cycle moves to 2024, with Herta facing a 'make or bust' situation at the end of 2027.

There, the 30 points he earned for finishing as runner-up in 2024, making up the bulk of his tally, will fall away, meaning he must race in an appropriately rewarded championship - but he has not given up hope of reaching F1. 

"It all depends on what next year looks like. My focus is still on getting to F1, and I still think I have a chance of that in these next two years," Herta told Autosport.

"But I don't know exactly; I have to sit back and see what the plan is for Cadillac for me.

"And once I know that, then I can make more decisions on maybe if I'm in Formula 1, if I'm not. What does that look like in terms of, is it a reserve role? Is it still a test role? If that's the case, what other series can I race in during that to stay busy?

"So, there's a lot of just, like, nothing to say at the moment, unfortunately, until I have more solidified plans for next year – then I can build everything out around that.

"I don't have anything for next year at the moment, but we're discussing getting through that as far as what the opportunities are for me within the team."

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Herta to F1?

Clarifying his recent remarks, Herta spoke of the "zero progression" he was showing in FIA F2. 

"I said 'I don't have an interest,'" Herta said.

 "This year, I think if there was clear progression and whatnot, it would be more interesting to return, but there's zero progression.

“I've been doing a lot more with the F1 team now as far as sim stuff. I just did a TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] day which was very strong. On the F1 sim and the TPC stuff, the pace has been really strong, but for whatever reason, it's just not translating to F2."