Colton Herta Targeting F1 Debut by 2028: ‘I still have a chance’

Colton Herta Struggles to Match Formula 2 Testing Pace

Colton Herta’s move from IndyCar to Formula 2 was designed to strengthen his long-term pursuit of a Formula 1 seat, but his rookie campaign has been significantly more difficult than expected. The Cadillac protege understood that F2 would be challenging, particularly because he bypassed Formula 3 and had to adapt to Pirelli tyres immediately. However, the scale of his lack of performance has left the Hitech driver struggling to find an explanation.

Herta is 19th in the drivers’ standings with 26 points. His best result is fifth in the Barcelona sprint race, achieved after starting third on the reversed grid. In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Herta said: “Nothing in particular, it’s just been the whole thing. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a whole bunch of positives at any point. For whatever reason, there’s been zero pace, and nothing has really changed.

“It’s unclear why we can’t put a weekend together from start to finish and it be completely strong. I think it’s just a head-scratcher to be qualified three seconds off here. It just makes zero sense to me.”

The American’s qualifying record reflects that inconsistency. Herta was joint 11th-fastest during pre-season testing at Barcelona, 0.574 seconds behind fellow rookie Rafael Camara, the reigning Formula 3 champion. That early pace suggested he could be competitive, but it did not carry over once the championship began.

Qualifying Deficit and Crashes Add to Herta’s Frustration

Across the first five rounds, Herta qualified 14th on average, with a mean deficit of 0.848 seconds to the quickest driver. His performance then deteriorated over the following eight qualifying sessions, where he averaged 18th and trailed the pace by 1.088 seconds on average. The figures exclude the most recent Baku event, where his deficit reached 2.484 seconds in Q1 and 3.091 seconds in Q2.

Crashes have also become more frequent, with three incidents across the recent Monza and Madrid rounds. Asked whether the main challenge had been adapting to the car or to the tyres, Herta said: “Initially, no. Through the winter testing, we were fairly strong. All the private testing that I’d done, I was strong, but for some reason on race weekends, it just hasn’t ever translated.”

He added: “It’s frustrating, but all we can do is just keep trying. I guess, unsure if that’s the last one [of the season, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi at threat due to the Iran war] or if we have more, but we’ll keep working like we have two more races to do. I’ll try to get the most out of it.”

Herta’s Cadillac Formula 1 Future Remains Unclear

The difficult F2 season has weakened Herta’s immediate Formula 1 prospects. Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss had expected Herta to finish inside the championship’s top 10, a target that is now almost mathematically out of reach. Cadillac had previously made clear that its test and development driver could have a genuine opportunity to secure a future F1 seat if he performed strongly in F2.

Herta said he has not received feedback from Cadillac about his results in the feeder series. He is, however, in discussions with the F1 team regarding his 2027 plans. Amid conflicting media reports, he clarified that he has not completely ruled out staying in F2 for a second season, although returning is not currently his preferred option.

“I said ‘I don’t have an interest’,” Herta pointed out. “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 on Monday, 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.”

Asked whether he was still firmly part of Cadillac’s plans for 2027, Herta replied: “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.”

Return to IndyCar Could Depend on Cadillac’s Plans

Herta, who finished runner-up in the 2024 IndyCar championship, also addressed the possibility of returning to the series. He said his priority remains reaching Formula 1 and that he believes he still has a chance to do so within the next two years, but his future will depend on the role Cadillac offers him.

“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. 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.”

Why This Matters

Herta’s F2 results are important because the championship was intended to demonstrate his readiness for a potential Cadillac Formula 1 opportunity. His strong pace in the simulator, private testing and Testing of Previous Cars work has not been matched by his race-weekend results, leaving Cadillac with an unresolved assessment of his current competitiveness.

With Herta’s 2027 plans still under discussion, the decision over whether he continues in F2, takes a reserve or testing role with Cadillac, or returns to IndyCar will depend on the opportunities available within the team. Herta has indicated that he will make broader career decisions once Cadillac provides a more settled plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Colton Herta in the Formula 2 standings?

Colton Herta is 19th in the Formula 2 drivers’ standings with 26 points. His best result is fifth in the Barcelona sprint race.

Why has Herta struggled in Formula 2?

Herta says he has shown strong pace in winter testing, private testing, the F1 simulator and TPC running, but that performance has not translated to Formula 2 race weekends. He said he is unsure why the team has been unable to produce consistently strong weekends.

Will Colton Herta return to IndyCar?

A return to IndyCar remains possible, but Herta’s immediate focus is reaching Formula 1 with Cadillac. His decision will depend on Cadillac’s plans for his 2027 role and whether he is offered a race, reserve or testing position.