Cadillac F1 reserve driver Colton Herta made a strong start to his preparations for the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship, taking to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi this week for his first official F2 test with Hitech TGR.
Over the opening two days, Herta completed 172 laps, putting in a busy programme of runs as he familiarised himself with the car and the series.
Herta’s debut began on Wednesday morning, when he clocked a 1:39.792 over 32 laps as he eased into the car.
He built steadily through the afternoon, completing 51 more laps and improving his best to a 1:39.416, as Hitech focused on acclimatisation and understanding the car’s handling.
Reflecting on the first day, Herta emphasised that comfort, rather than outright speed, was the priority:
©Instagram/ColtonHerta
“It was all about getting comfortable, and I am still pretty far from being super comfortable in the car,” commented the 25-year-old, quoted by Speedcafe.
“It’s good first steps, it’s such an important three days for us, it’s important to maximise everything that we do here.
“It’s fun to be here, fun to be in a car in the offseason, and I am looking forward to the next two days.”
Building Pace and Endurance
Thursday saw Herta continue to pile on the laps, completing 36 in the morning session and lowering his best time to a 1:38.115, showing promising progress as he gained confidence in the Hitech TGR machinery.
The afternoon session shifted focus to long-run, heavy-fuel work, assessing tyre behaviour and the evolution of the car’s balance. Herta completed 53 further laps, posting a 1:42.263 as part of the extended programme.
Across the two days, Herta’s 172 laps placed him among the busiest drivers on track. His best time ranked 15th overall, just over a second behind MP Motorsport’s Oliver Goethe and four tenths quicker than his newly announced Hitech teammate, Ritomo Miyata.
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