Colton Herta Shines in His First Taste of Formula 2 Machinery

IndyCar star Colton Herta got his first taste of Formula 2 machinery on Sunday, November 2, as he continues preparing for his transition to the European racing scene.

The American driver is set to join Hitech Grand Prix for the 2026 F2 season while also serving as a test and development driver for the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 Team.

Herta’s decision to step away from IndyCar and compete in Formula 2 marks a bold move in pursuit of his long-held dream of reaching Formula 1.

At 25, the California native views the switch as a necessary step to gain experience in the FIA ladder system and accumulate the super license points required for an eventual F1 seat.

Although Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss has publicly stated that Herta is not guaranteed a race seat with the team in 2027 or beyond, the American is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

On Sunday, Herta participated in a private two-day F2 test at Monza, the historic home of the Italian Grand Prix. The event was organized by Katayama, a Swiss track day operator that offers professional testing opportunities with older-generation Formula 2 cars.

Each group completed four 45-minute sessions, with the cost per car listed at 2,350 euros (approximately $2,710).

Photographer Filippo Perotti (fp images), who was present at the circuit, confirmed that Herta was among the drivers taking part and shared images of him driving the No. 32 Dallara F2 car for MM International Motorsport in wet conditions.

Despite the challenging weather, Herta impressed by setting the fastest time of the day, finishing four-tenths of a second ahead of the next quickest driver.

Herta is expected to continue testing on Monday for the second day of the Monza program. Other participants included Australian driver Christian Mansell, who was testing with Trident after stepping away from racing earlier this year prior to his planned F2 debut with Rodin Racing.

According to Katayama’s official website, another two-day F2 test is scheduled for November 11–12 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. After that, the next available F2 test days will not take place until February 2026 in Barcelona.

This opens the possibility that Herta could join the upcoming Red Bull Ring sessions as part of his continued preparation for his full-time European campaign.

For Herta, the Monza test represents both a new beginning and a crucial step toward his ultimate goal, becoming the first American driver in decades to successfully bridge the gap from IndyCar to Formula 1.

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