Herta won’t return to F2 – leaving Cadillac F1 hopes in limbo

Colton Herta has effectively drawn a line under his Formula 2 experiment, confirming that he has no intention of returning for another season in the series in 2027 – a decision that likely also signals an end to his long-running Formula 1 ambitions.

The Cadillac reserve driver made the leap from IndyCar to F2 this year with Hitech, hoping to add the necessary European experience to his considerable résumé and strengthen his case for a seat in F1 with the US outfit.

Instead, the move has turned into a bruising campaign, with Herta languishing 19th in the championship with only three rounds remaining.

Cadillac has made no secret of its interest in eventually putting an American driver in one of its cars, and Herta had long been viewed as one of the obvious candidates for that role.

But his F2 campaign has done little to advance that cause. After collecting several points-paying finishes early in the year, the 24-year-old has managed just one scoring result across his last 13 races.

His Madrid weekend then descended into further frustration when a qualifying crash ruled him out of both races.

Against that backdrop, Herta's declaration appears to point to an inevitable return to the United States, although the 26-year-old stopped short of revealing where he will race in 2027.

But there was no ambiguity about one option he has already crossed off his list.

“I think we'll have to wait and see,” Herta told F1 Insider. “But I have no interest in another year of Formula 2.”

No looking back

It is a direct admission that the feeder series route has run its course.

For Cadillac, which has openly expressed a desire to put an American in one of its cars, Herta’s difficult transition highlights the harsh reality of shifting between top-tier IndyCar machinery and F2's notoriously tricky feeder platform.

Rather than proving his readiness for the Grand Prix grid, the exercise has largely stalled his momentum, leaving both driver and team to reassess their options.

There is one thing Herta clearly does not blame for his disappointing season: the championship itself.

While he is ready to walk away from competing in F2, the American says the category has retained his respect and his interest. His experience from inside the paddock has, if anything, given him a greater appreciation for the challenge faced by its drivers.

“I'll definitely watch it; I'll always enjoy following Formula 2 as a racing series,” he said.

“I think I've watched Formula 2 races for the past ten years or so, and I'll continue to do so.

“I really like the racing style and the races themselves, and I have great respect for the drivers who compete here because I know what they're capable of.

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“While I already knew that, now I know it even more from my own experience and I'm aware of the level at which everyone is operating.

“So, of course, I'm interested in the car, and I'll see what it looks like, what its downforce figures are, and how well it's suited for racing next year.

“I'll definitely keep following it.”

Whether Herta’s next step involves a full-time return to the familiar confines of IndyCar or a re-imagined role within Cadillac's broader motorsport operations remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that his stint on the F1 ladder likely ends here.

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