It’s official: Colton Hertha won’t return to the IndyCar series in 2026.
Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like a fantastical result. In particular, Cadillac chose two experienced drivers on the Formula 1 team, which is described as a contract for several years.
It may have given Hertha another year or two to secure the FIA Super License Points he needs at IndyCar, but instead he will soon be integrated into the Cadillac setup.
There was no desire to give Herta a shot in F1. The original Andretti Global Bid suggests that he is ideally one of its race drivers. Currently, Dan Towriss-Run TWG Motorsports Operation is about to create a route from IndyCar to one of the F1 sheets.
At the age of 25, it would be a big step for Hertha to stop racing to commit to a full-time Formula 1 role, but he has left IndyCar and has not currently announced the 2026 race program.
It’s possible that he doesn’t have a big one – six FP1 outings to see him not earn the points he needs for a super license if he covers at least 100km and receives a penalty – but the most likely scenario is that Herta will be paired His now satisfied Cadillac test driver job Comes with Formula 2 ride.
Yes, from being a nine-race winner at IndyCar to being a F2 rookie, this is a step back, but there are multiple reasons why this move makes sense.
First, with his Cadillac role now confirmed, racing in the F1 Feeder Series also allows him to keep the race sharp while still maintaining the race year-round, while still maintaining the Hertha in and around the team. All F2 events are support races over the weekend of F1, so there are no conflicts in his schedule.
Another – very obvious – reason for racing in F2 is the super license points offered. Tenth in the championship scores 3 points, while the eighth gives him the six he needs to hit a 40 magic number (the top three in the rankings will all automatically get the 40 needed). The points on P10 alone will bring him far closer to the total, reducing the number of FP1 sessions he needs to perform.
There’s also a track experience. Racing each weekend in F2 on the same circuit as F1 will allow Cadillacs to compete, while building more Hertha’s knowledge of the venue. He also used Pirelli tires that were designed to deteriorate in a similar way to those used in F1. They are far from the same, and although the machine also affects the driver’s tyre feeling, the details that put him in a more equal arena for other drivers coming out through the F1 ladder.
As small as each of these last two points, combined with all these aspects, there is a clear advantage in that Hertha is ready if he has the opportunity to race in F1 in the future.
If you’re talented and successful in IndyCar like Herta, you can debate whether Ladder Super’s license points are properly structured when they don’t have race clearance in Formula 1 yet, but if Herta and TWG commit to that preparation through Formula 2, they’ll pay great respect to the current system.
F2 “Prep School” clearly offers Hadjar and Bortoletto in F1. Peter Fox/Getty Images
This year’s influx of rookies from F2 is an example of both the pros and cons of such moves.
Isack Hadjar won his first podium on Sunday at Zandvoort. After finishing the runner-up in last year’s F2 Championship, he excels in racing with the Bulls in his first season. Hadjar also passed F3 two years ago in F2, but is now advertised as the future Red Bull driver.
2024 F2 champion Gabriel Boltreto was very impressed with Sauber. Kimi Antoneri took his first podium in Canada, with Oliver Baerman at Haas’s career-high sixth place just three days ago.
However, Bearman and Antonelli prove that racing in F2 is not guaranteed to be a success or a super license point. Bearman won three races in 2024, finishing 12th in the championship, but Antonelli also disappeared from the competition despite being a teammate of the usually strong Prema team.
But in addition to the engineer and mechanic movements, machines from the Time Times era can produce clear advantages and disadvantages between teams despite the specs of the series. Add one short practice session prior to qualifying. There’s very little time to solve problems on weekends.
Bearman and Antonelli had already gotten at least Super License Points, but their respective seasons last year, and this season’s performances should prove they are capable, even if they can’t always show it in F2. The fact is that if an F2 drive is confirmed, Herta, TWG and all his supporters should bear in mind. The outcome may be the target, but they are not just the driver and their abilities yet.
Such a move risks damaging Hertha’s reputation only for those who are looking at his finishing position if he is fighting a young driver who has been on the same path for years. However, both methods are valuable to prepare for the next step, especially when paired with the role of a Formula 1 team, even if Super License Points don’t last.