Colton Herta has been handed a clear target by Cadillac ahead of his rookie FIA Formula 2 Championship campaign in 2026 – finish in the top 10.
But if the US outfit expects quiet consolidation, Herta’s response suggests something far more aggressive.
The nine-time IndyCar race winner has pivoted sharply toward Europe, signing on as a Cadillac F1 test driver while committing to a full F2 season with Hitech Grand Prix. For the American, it’s an all-in gamble on a long-held Formula 1 dream.
And he’s not crossing the Atlantic to make up the numbers.
Cadillac sets the bar
Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss has outlined the organisation’s expectations plainly. Development is the priority, not instant domination.
“Really, I'm looking for a top-10 finish from Colton in F2. Really, it's [learning] tracks and tyres, and just his development to be ready for Formula 1,” Towriss said.
“He'll be spending time on the F1 sim. So it's not just what happens in F2. There'll be FP1s that he'll be involved with as well as sim work. And so we'll look at the total body of work to judge his readiness for Formula 1.”
©Instagram/ColtonHerta
In other words, Herta’s apprenticeship will stretch beyond the F2 paddock. Simulator hours, Friday practice outings and technical integration into Cadillac’s nascent F1 programme will all feed into the final verdict.
While it’s a conservative approach., Herta, however, doesn’t operate in half-measures.
‘If the goal isn’t to win…’
Asked whether a top-10 championship finish satisfies him, the 25-year-old delivered a pointed reply.
“Everything that I hop into, I want to be competitive, and I want to be strong,” Herta said. “If the goal isn’t to win, then I don’t really see why you would do it. That’s my mindset.
“Either how unrealistic it is or how realistic it is, I don’t know. I guess time will have to tell.
“I think if you go into the mindset of, ‘Well, let’s try to work off and start inside the top 15, and then move forward from there,’ I just don’t think it’s the right approach.
“So for me, I want to be as quick as possible. I want to lead sessions, I want to win pole, I want to win races. But, I guess time will tell how difficult that is.”
©Cadillac
It’s a declaration of intent that cuts sharply against the cautious tone from above. Herta isn’t targeting tenth. He’s targeting the front row.
Early signs in Barcelona testing hinted at potential. He cracked the top 10 on day one, climbed to ninth on day two, and ended the test fourth overall – not bad for a driver adapting to new machinery, new circuits and the unforgiving Pirelli tyre philosophy of F2.
Still, Herta was quick to temper the idea that his IndyCay credentials automatically hands him an edge over a younger grid.
“I don’t think it’s as much of an advantage as people might think,” Herta cautioned. “At this stage in your career, whether you’re 18 or 25, you’re pretty much fully developed there.
“There are some small things that you learn along the way, but as far as outright pace, you’re pretty much close to what your maximum will be. But, it’s nice to have that experience.”
Alongside him at Hitech sits Ritomo Miyata, entering his third F2 season – a valuable benchmark for a newcomer recalibrating his career path.
“I think what’s very helpful is having Ritomo as a teammate also, with a lot of F2 experience,” said Herta. “I think it’s going to be very helpful for me this year.”
The bigger Cadillac picture
Herta’s F2 results will not exist in isolation. As Towriss mentioned, Cadillac’s evaluation matrix stretches deep into its Formula 1 preparations, with simulator mileage and planned FP1 outings forming a crucial part of his education.
“Seat time in an F1 car is probably going to be the most important thing to get me ready for Formula 1!” Herta declared when asked about those planned FP1 opportunities. “So, yeah, looking forward to that.
“Obviously, it’s a big task and big job that they have on, so I don’t know exactly when those FP1s are going to come. It’s pretty far down on the priority list at the moment!
©Cadillac
“But it’s very exciting to see them testing. I think talking to a lot of people, they’re very happy with how it’s going. I think they’ve seen some bumps along the way, but they’re very excited about the progress.”
Cadillac’s maiden Formula 1 season will unfold alongside Herta’s F2 campaign, beginning at Albert Park in March, where both ladders launch in tandem.
For Towriss, a top-10 finish represents steady progress. For Herta, it’s merely the baseline.
Because while Cadillac may be measuring readiness, Herta is measuring something else entirely: poles, wins – and proof that his detour from American open-wheel racing can deliver him to Formula 1 on merit, not marketing.
Top 10 might be the assignment. But winning, in his mind, is the only acceptable answer.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
