Colton Herta, one of IndyCar’s brightest stars, is taking a daring step into the unknown by leaving behind a thriving career in the US to join Cadillac’s F1 programme as a test and development driver, with the hope of gaining access to a full-time seat in the future.
It’s a decision that bucks convention. Few established race winners willingly step down into junior categories, but Herta will line up in Formula 2 next season as part of his integration into the F1 world.
For the 25-year-old former Andretti Global charger, the gamble is clear: risk everything in pursuit of his dream, or spend a career wondering what might have been.
“Everyone’s seen how close I’ve come before,” Herta reflected recently on the Off Track with Hinch and Rossi podcast.
“I think this is my best shot at getting to Formula 1.” Then, with a pause that made his intentions crystal clear, he added: “It’s a lifeline.”
The Risk Factor
Herta is by no means downplaying the challenge of swapping IndyCar glory for a proving ground in Europe.
“It goes without saying, the risk factor…” he admitted. “For me, it was an incredibly tough decision to make, because I know what I’m leaving behind.
“I’m leaving behind a great group of guys, an incredibly competitive championship where if it’s your day you can win, and we’ve seen that’s not always the case in Formula 1 – you need the car to compete.
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“The easy thing would be to stay in IndyCar. That would be simple for me. I’d live a very similar life.
“It’s a risk, and it’s a dream of mine, so I thought, this is my last shot at it. I want to do it, I want to take that chance. For me, it’s really just about fighting for my dream.”
Betting on Himself
Though there are no guarantees Cadillac will hand him a race seat in 2027, or perhaps earlier, Herta is undeterred. Unlike his thwarted AlphaTauri opportunity in 2023, superlicence points are no longer a barrier. Now it’s all about proving his worth on track.
Asked whether the lack of certainty scared him, Herta was emphatic: “No, not for me. As a racing driver, you constantly are betting on yourself. For me, this is just one of those things where I’m betting on myself. I believe in myself, I believe that I’m fast enough to do it.
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“That’s not saying it’s going to be easy – it’s going to be a lot of work to understand the differences from grand prix racing to IndyCar racing, but it’s something I’m going to work for, 100% diving into it.
“If I didn’t think that I can do it – like I said, it’s a super big risk – I would stay in IndyCar. But I believe in myself, and I believe I’m fast enough.”
A Heart Entrenched in IndyCar
While his eyes are locked on Formula 1, Herta hasn’t shut the door on IndyCar forever. He hinted that a one-off run in the Indianapolis 500 could be possible if schedules align.
“If it makes sense, it’s definitely something that I would be open to, but it has to make sense, right? It can’t hold us back from the ultimate goal, which is trying to reach Formula 1 with Cadillac F1,” he insisted.
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And whatever the outcome of his European adventure, Herta insists his relationship with IndyCar isn’t over.
“This isn’t a forever goodbye to IndyCar by any means,” he said. “I see myself coming back to IndyCar at some stage in my career, just because I love it.”
For now, though, the Californian is all-in. With Cadillac, F2, and an F1 dream hanging in the balance, Colton Herta has placed his biggest bet yet – on himself.
Read also: Cadillac F1 confirms Herta shock switch from IndyCar to F2
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