Formula 2 News: Herta Thrilled for Fresh Start in F2 as Simulator Work Kicks Off with Hitech TGR

American racing star Colton Herta (pictured) is wasting no time diving into his Formula 2 preparations with Hitech TGR, aiming to hit the ground running for his 2026 debut season.

Announced earlier this month, the 26-year-old is making the bold leap from IndyCar—where he notched nine victories and 19 podiums over seven thrilling seasons—to the high-stakes world of F2. Fresh off his appointment as a test driver for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Herta views this move as a pivotal milestone in his journey toward the pinnacle of motorsport.

Herta gearing up with Hitech TGR for his Formula 2 bow.

“It’s exciting,” Herta said of his F2 announcement. “I think it’s a necessary step in what I want my progression to be as a racing driver, and hopefully as a Formula 1 driver—it’s an important step. It’s a new start, a fresh opportunity, something entirely new to me. But the main thing is, whenever I’m in the race car, I want to be competitive. That has to be the goal: to achieve that as quickly as possible.”

Herta is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “I may be older, but speed-wise, these guys are just as fast as anybody out there,” he admitted. “I definitely know the task at hand—it’s going to be a tough one—but I look forward to it. I’m here to learn, here to drive, and to hopefully be fast.”

Selecting the right team was crucial for unlocking that potential, and Hitech TGR quickly emerged as the standout choice. The British squad’s proven track record across Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula 4 impressed both Herta and his Cadillac backers.

“When we were looking at teams, myself and also with Cadillac, the biggest thing is it had to be results-driven,” Herta explained. “Hitech checks those boxes as a professional outfit. As you can see from this year and the past seasons—not only in F2 but also in F3 and F4—they seem to excel in everything, and there’s a reason for that. After some meetings and getting to know the people, the decision made itself. It was really simple to see that this is a professional organization, and one that I feel will best prepare me to be ready for Formula 1.”

To fine-tune his approach, Herta has been tapping into the wisdom of IndyCar peers who’ve navigated F2 waters before.

Herta consulting with ex-F2 racers to sharpen his edge.

“It’s good to have those conversations,” he noted. “Just to understand that it’s going to be different for me, for a whole bunch of reasons. But the racing is mainly what I need to focus on—being fast in the race car—and that’s where the majority of the talk has been: on how to best prepare me before I hop in.”

Adapting to F2’s rhythm will be another adjustment, especially the blisteringly short off-season compared to IndyCar’s more leisurely breaks. Herta is grateful for Hitech’s support, even as they chase glory in the ongoing Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships.

Herta appreciates Hitech’s championship distractions notwithstanding.

“So far, Hitech has been really gracious with their time for me,” Herta shared. “You have to remember they’re in contention for a championship in F2, and that needs to be their main focus—I understand that. But they’ve been great during this break, taking me under their wing to get me prepped for next year. In IndyCar, we’re used to a pretty big off-season—a lot of time to decompress and plan. You don’t really get that in F2. It’s a quick turnaround, with testing right in the off-season, so there’s no real downtime for these guys and girls. But they’ve been fantastic, giving their time away even though they need to spend most of it on winning the championship. It’s early days; I just need to understand what I’m doing and get a feel for the F2 car in the sim before I hop in for real.”

With the 2026 calendar unveiled, Herta is buzzing about revisiting European classics like Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Red Bull Ring, Monza, and Barcelona—circuits he last tackled nearly a decade ago—while eagerly anticipating fresh challenges.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a track in particular that I’m looking forward to,” he wrapped up. “There are some favorites I’m excited to return to, but also some new ones that look thrilling. Just overall, excited to be here.”

Herta’s F2 adventure promises to blend American grit with European precision, and fans can’t wait to see how quickly he lights up the grid.