Colton Herta had a season far more complicated than expected in his Formula 2 debut this year, according to Bruno Michel, the series’ CEO. The executive believes that moving from IndyCar into a different working environment may have been underestimated by the driver and by the organization itself.
The American Cadillac test driver in Formula 1, the driver left IndyCar to race in F2 in 2026 for Hitech, aiming to secure the points needed to obtain FIA’s super license and attempt to reach the sport’s top category. However, he currently sits 19th in the standings and has not yet achieved a podium, a scenario that also complicates his plans for 2027.
In an interview with PlanetF1.com, Michel acknowledged that Herta’s performance fell short of his expectations: “It was tougher than I imagined, because Colton is a very strong driver. There’s no doubt about that. Perhaps he and we underestimated the difference in the working environment compared to IndyCar teams,” he said.
The executive pointed to qualifying sessions as one of Herta’s main difficulties. In F2, drivers must quickly find pace in short sessions, with little track time and only one or two fast laps per tire run. According to Michel, this requirement may have affected the American more than he expected, although the driver has posted solid performances in some races.
The situation raises questions about Herta’s next steps. He is not expected to reach the points needed to obtain the superlicense, and he is also far from the target of finishing in the top ten in F2, set by Dan Towriss, Cadillac’s CEO in F1. While he does not rule out competing in the series again in 2027, that is not his stated priority.
Michel, for his part, defended the presence of drivers with different career paths in F2, even recognizing the obstacles of the transition: “I think it is very positive to welcome drivers who come from outside. For Colton, entering Formula 2 was a big and quite different step, but I believe this experience is important for those aiming to reach Formula 1,” he added.
There are only two rounds left in the 2026 Formula 2 season, and Michel hopes that Herta can finish the championship on a somewhat stronger note: “He deserves that,” concluded the series’ chief.
