Colton Herta SHOULD Leave IndyCar for F2

Conversation is swirling that Colton Herta may leave IndyCar and make the jump to Formula 2 in 2026. Nothing is confirmed, but reports suggest discussions are happening behind the scenes.

The idea is simple: F2 could give Herta the FIA Super License points he still needs while offering valuable experience on F1 circuits, in cars closer to F1 machinery, and under the same race weekend format.

On paper, the move makes sense. A season in F2 would put him squarely inside the system that feeds F1. He would be racing on the same tracks, in similar cars, and within the environment of the F1 paddock. Yet, there’s a catch — Colton Herta is already a proven race winner and championship contender in IndyCar. Leaving that behind for what some see as a “junior series” risks looking like a step backward. Even if he dominates in F2, there’s no guarantee of a Formula 1 seat waiting for him in 2027.

Cadillac has already announced Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez as its inaugural lineup, and it’s reasonable to expect each to stay at least two seasons. That means the earliest Herta could realistically expect a F1 seat is 2028. In the meantime, he might spend one or two years in F2, perhaps coupled with a reserve role at Cadillac. If this move comes with major partners and a clear 2–3 year plan, it could be the perfect springboard into F1. With Andretti and Cadillac behind him, Herta wouldn’t be making the move alone — he’d have real backing. Of course, the challenges go beyond racing; relocating to Europe, adapting to a new lifestyle, and essentially starting over in a cutthroat system would test even the toughest driver. The risk is high, with no guarantee, but if there is a time, it is now.

Herta is 25 years old now. If there was a time to invest 2-3 years into a bigger dream, that window is open now. Many drivers are racing into their late 30s now. Colton could return to IndyCar at 28ish years old and still have a decade to compete in IndyCar.

So, if he did make the switch, who would he race for? Logic suggests an F2 team aligned with Andretti or Cadillac to create a smoother pipeline, although nothing has been confirmed.

There’s also a family connection to F1 worth remembering. In 2002, Colton’s father, Bryan Herta, tested a Minardi at Donington Park, driving the PS01B Formula 1 car. Minardi was impressed and even floated the idea of a full test later that year, though it never came to pass. Both father and son, then, have stood at the doorway of F1 without stepping fully through.

That’s what makes Colton’s situation so compelling. Does he stay in IndyCar, chasing wins and building a long-term legacy? Or does he take the risky detour into F2 for the chance at Formula 1? The opportunity may never come again — Cadillac’s entry, Andretti’s backing, and interest from F2 teams have aligned the stars in a way that rarely happens.

For me, that's why Herta should take the opportunity. The road is uncertain, but the potential payoff is enormous. He has the chance to etch his name in motorsports history. For a legacy driver like him, the Herta name needs to be mentioned alongside the Andrettis and Fittipaldis as significant names in global motorsports.