President reveals IndyCar star’s biggest advantage over F2 rivals

Nine-time IndyCar winner and American driver Colton Herta is leaving the series to take part in Formula 1.

Herta, 25, is moving into Formula 2 to eventually obtain an FIA Super License and make his F1 debut. He has previously tested Sauber (now Audi) cars and outperformed Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi in the simulator. In 2022, Herta failed to collect the required 40 super license points; He only had 32 points.

Under the new IndyCar rules, he could have scored 48 points and started F1 in 2023, but he remained in the series for three more seasons. To reach the required six points, Herta will race for Hitech TGR in F2 and become the development driver for the Cadillac F1 team, but the situation is complicated by the contracts of Bottas and Perez.

F2 CEO Bruno Michel says Herta’s experience gives him an advantage over younger drivers.

Michel is quick to point out: “He’s an experienced rider and that always helps; he’s competed quite a lot.”

“He is 25 now, which means he has a lot of experience in racing. And this will of course be an advantage for him.”

The key area where Herta can be expected to have an advantage is her racing prowess. As a more mature and experienced driver, he will be able to benefit from experiences that his rivals do not have.

“I’m sure his racing skills are more developed than the young drivers who come directly into Formula 2. That will definitely help.”

The other thing I would say is probably the only thing we have in common is that IndyCar runs Dallara cars like we do, even though they’re a little different. But let’s say Dallara has its own philosophy and is a single-brand category, just like ours.

So all of these things will be important to him and will help him.”