As the incoming Cadillac Formula 1 team fills out its roster for the 2026 season, one of its biggest moves was securing the services of IndyCar star Colton Herta as a test driver for the upcoming campaign. Herta has been linked with a move to F1 in the past, but still requires the necessary points on his FIA Super License to qualify for the grid.
Now, he is on a path to secure those points.
Cadillac announced on Tuesday that Herta will drive in Formula 2 next season, competing for Hitech in that support series next season. This will give Herta, who has competed in British F4, British F3, Spanish F3, and the Euroformula Open, experience at tracks such as Monaco, Monza, and Silverstone.
“I’m incredibly excited to officially be joining F2 for the 2026 Formula 2 season. This is an amazing opportunity to develop my skills in European racing and to measure myself against some of the best young drivers in the world,” said Herta. “Racing on the same weekends as Formula 1 will give me first-hand experience of that environment and help me grow as part of the Cadillac F1 family. I’m very grateful to Cadillac and Hitech for their trust and support and I can’t wait to get started.”
“Colton has already shown exceptional talent and professionalism throughout his career. His move into Formula 2 with Hitech is a natural and important next step in his development towards Formula 1,” said Dan Towriss, the CEO of Cadillac F1. “Competing in F2 will not only strengthen his racecraft in the European environment but also allow for greater integration with our team as he continues to support us with his testing and simulator duties.
”We are proud of Colton’s commitment to success in European racing, and we look forward to seeing him take on this exciting new challenge with Hitech – a team with a proven history of success in junior categories.”
When Cadillac announced that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez would be their driver pairing for the 2026 season, many believed the team would leave the door open for a younger driver to take one of those spots in 2027.
With Herta now locked into an F2 seat for next season, that dream could be closer to reality.
