Herta: No hiding from ‘disappointing’ results in Formula 2

Cadillac F1 prospect Colton Herta insists his season in Formula 2 is providing him with valuable lessons, but the former IndyCar star admits there is no hiding behind his disappointing results.

Tipped as one of Cadillac's leading F1 hopeful, Herta has endured a bruising campaign year-to-date in F1, leaving him 17th in the championship after five consecutive scoreless weekends.

While the move from IndyCar was designed to prepare him for F1 by exposing him to Pirelli tyres, European circuits and the FIA's feeder series, Herta admits the transition has been tougher than he'd hoped.

The positives are there – but so are the frustrations.

"Some good, some bad," Herta told RACER. "I think you look at the positives of what I'm learning with the tyres, with the tracks, the understanding I'm gaining from that, which will be super important for the future.

"Obviously the results are disappointing. There's no hiding from it. And for me, kind of with my background, I've always been able to win and compete, so it's been a little bit of a relearning of a lot of emotions this year.

"I think we're working hard to try to turn it around, but I think it's in my nature to want to compete and want to race and want to win and be competitive, and so it's disappointing when you just haven't been."

Those comments paint the picture of a driver wrestling with an unfamiliar feeling. Success has followed Herta throughout much of his career, but Formula 2 has offered a sobering reminder that reputation alone guarantees nothing.

No illusions about the competition

Herta is quick to dismiss any suggestion that he underestimated the standard of Formula 2. If anything, he says the championship has simply reinforced what he already believed about the calibre of talent fighting for Formula 1 opportunities.

"I held the F2 drivers to a really high standard, especially because I've raced against a bunch of them in IndyCar and I know what they're capable of.

“I mean, [Christian] Lundgaard's probably the greatest example right now, who started on pole for the IndyCar race this Sunday.

"I think we all know what a lot of these guys are capable of over here. When you look at the raw speed, they're all F1 ready for the most part. And so, I knew what I was getting myself into as far as that and the capability of everybody.

“So, yes, I guess not surprised by that aspect, but maybe a little bit more surprised by the performance and the lack of capitalization so far this year."

For a driver with Formula 1 aspirations, that's perhaps the most concerning admission of all. Herta expected a fierce challenge – but not to leave so many opportunities on the table.

Still chasing victories

Despite the difficult start, Herta has no intention of lowering his ambitions for the remainder of the season.

Instead, his focus is on making steady gains while refusing to abandon the competitive mindset that has defined his racing career.

"Little improvements – I think that that's kind of all we can look at at the moment, is making those small steps on balance, on, the team side, but then also on my side. So, trying to continue to improve.” He insisted.

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"But the racer in me, it's like, I want to win. So that's ultimately the goal. How realistic or unrealistic at the moment, who knows? But that's kind of where my thinking still is."

For now, though, optimism alone cannot disguise the numbers.

Herta may be building experience that could prove invaluable if a Cadillac Formula 1 seat eventually materialises, but unless those hard-earned lessons begin translating into results, his difficult Formula 2 campaign will continue to raise uncomfortable questions.

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