Former Andretti Global star Colton Herta shared shocking details about his less-than-successful first test session, but his F2 team boss still has high expectations for the American driver’s debut as a reserve driver.

Colton Herta, the former Andretti Global standout and nine-time NTT IndyCar Series race winner, has embarked on one of the most audacious career moves in modern motorsport.

After years of dominating American open-wheel racing and coming tantalizingly close to Formula 1 opportunities, the 25-year-old Californian has stepped back to compete full-time in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for 2026.

This bold transition serves a dual purpose: securing the remaining Super Licence points needed for F1 eligibility and positioning himself as a strong candidate for a future race seat with the newly debuted Cadillac Formula 1 Team, where he serves as reserve and test driver.

Herta’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Having risen rapidly in IndyCar—becoming the series’ youngest-ever race winner at just 18 and consistently challenging for podiums and championships—the American driver has long harbored ambitions of reaching Formula 1.

Previous near-misses, including a rumored 2023 drive with AlphaTauri that fell through due to insufficient Super Licence points, underscored the challenges of bridging the gap between North American and European racing ladders.

With Cadillac’s entry into F1 as the 11th team in 2026, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports (which also owns Andretti Global), Herta found an aligned pathway.

Signed as a test and development driver alongside race pairing Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, he committed to a full F2 campaign with Hitech Grand Prix to gain essential experience on F1 calendars and with Pirelli tires—elements starkly different from IndyCar’s Firestone rubber and diverse track types.

The move was announced in late 2025, with Hitech, a competitive outfit sitting second in the 2025 teams’ standings, welcoming Herta as a key addition. Team manager Clive Hatton expressed delight at the signing, praising the driver’s determination and commitment while acknowledging the challenges ahead.

“This is an exciting step for Colton, but also a challenging one,” Hatton noted. “He’s stepping into a new racing environment that has very different formats, with high expectations, and a clear goal of progressing to F1.

But his determination and commitment are impressive and we’re delighted to help maximise his potential during the 2026 season.”

Herta’s preparation intensified with his first official taste of current-generation F2 machinery during the post-season test at Yas Marina Circuit in mid-December 2025, shortly after the F1 season concluded.

Joining 22 drivers on track, Herta completed an impressive volume of laps—reports indicate around 280 over three days—focusing on adaptation rather than outright pace. However, the results were humbling.

He failed to crack the top 10 in any session, with his best showing a P11 in the opening morning run and lows dipping to P19.

Lap times reflected the learning curve, as he grappled with the car’s handling, downforce levels, and especially the sensitive Pirelli compounds that demand precise management to maintain performance over stints.

In candid reflections shared shortly after, Herta described the test as “wobbly” and “less-than-successful,” admitting the transition was tougher than anticipated. The Pirelli tires proved particularly tricky, differing significantly from IndyCar’s Firestone construction in terms of warm-up, degradation, and grip window.

This echoed warnings from observers and even parallels with other experienced drivers like Super Formula champion Ritomo Miyata, who struggled in F2 despite prior success.

Herta emphasized that the sessions prioritized long-run data, tire evaluation, and car balance understanding over raw speed, but the lack of top-10 finishes still raised eyebrows given his proven talent.

Despite the underwhelming showing, optimism remains high within the Hitech camp. Team boss Clive Hatton has maintained a positive outlook, stressing that the test was about building foundations rather than setting benchmarks.

Hatton’s confidence stems from Herta’s quick learning ability, professionalism, and prior European experience—including stints in British F4 and Euroformula Open a decade ago.

The manager highlighted the driver’s commitment to the process, noting that early struggles are common in such transitions and that Herta’s maturity and speed potential will shine through as he accumulates mileage.

With the 2026 F2 season kicking off in March at the Australian Grand Prix, Hatton expects significant progress, positioning Herta as a contender capable of strong results in a highly competitive field.

For Herta, the stakes could not be higher. A top-eight finish in F2 would secure the necessary Super Licence points (he enters with 35, needing just a handful more), opening the door for potential FP1 sessions or a 2027 Cadillac promotion.

Yet the move carries risks: stepping down from IndyCar frontrunner status to a junior series could invite scrutiny if results falter, and there’s no guaranteed F1 seat even with strong performances.

Cadillac CEO Dan Towriss has described it as a “huge risk” with “no risk, no reward,” but praised Herta’s courage in pursuing his dream.

The American motorsport community watches closely. Fellow IndyCar drivers like Pato O’Ward have voiced support, suggesting Herta’s success would elevate perceptions of IndyCar globally.

As the season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Herta can convert his raw talent into consistent F2 results, proving doubters wrong and inching closer to Formula 1.

His journey represents not just personal ambition but a bridge between two worlds of open-wheel racing—one that could redefine opportunities for American drivers in the pinnacle of the sport.