Colton Herta has made a crucial decision about his future in Formula 2. The American driver has seemingly confirmed that he will not return to the series for a second season in 2027. This decision comes after a challenging debut campaign with Hitech.
Herta, who also serves as a reserve driver for the Cadillac F1 Team, struggled during his rookie season. He suffered a heavy crash in qualifying in Madrid, which left him too unwell to participate in both the Sprint and Feature races at the new circuit. That incident was one of the lowest points of his campaign.
Coming from a successful career in IndyCar, Herta transitioned to F2 for the 2026 season with ambitions of eventually racing in Formula 1. This year, he is set to participate in four F1 free practice sessions, having already carried out his first in Barcelona, with two more in Hungary and Italy. However, to be eligible for an F1 seat, Herta needs an additional two Super Licence points, which are primarily amassed through results in junior categories and rookie FP1 sessions.
Currently, Herta sits 19th in the F2 drivers’ standings with just 26 points – a result that would not score him any points towards a Super Licence. When asked whether he had expected F2 to be as difficult as he had found it, Herta said: “I think I was already expecting a lot of that. I’ve actually always assumed it would be difficult because I know the standard. I’ve raced against drivers who’ve been successful in Formula 2, and also against drivers who’ve moved from Formula 2 to IndyCar and performed well there. So I know how fast these drivers are – there was never any doubt about that. I knew from the start that it would be a challenge.”
Most of Hitech’s 96 championship points have been scored by Herta’s more experienced teammate, Ritomo Miyata. The Japanese driver has amassed 70 points across eight races so far, including a victory and podium in Madrid. When probed as to what he believes have been the team’s biggest challenges, Herta said: “It’s hard to say. But one thing is clear: we simply have to improve. We’re actually not fast enough in almost every area, which I find frustrating. But I can only work on the things I can influence myself, give my best in those areas and try to support the team and help them as much as possible wherever I can.”
The American driver made it clear he has no intentions of returning to F2 for another season. “I think we’ll just have to wait and see,” Herta said. “But I’m not interested in another year in Formula 2.” This statement opens speculation about a possible return to IndyCar, where he has previously found more success. It also signals that Herta wants to pursue F1 opportunities soon, even though the path remains steep.
With performances yet to meet expectations, Herta’s future in single-seater racing is now uncertain. Will he return to America and continue his career in IndyCar, or will he stay in Europe to chase his F1 dream? One thing is clear: he does not see F2 as part of his plans. We await the next move from a driver once hailed as one of America’s brightest talents.
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