What is at stake with Colton Herta’s F1 quest

Colton Herta has been racing full-time in IndyCar since 2019, and he holds the distinction of being the sport’s youngest race winner in history. Since then, he has won nine races and finished as high as second in the championship, while his interest in finding a path to F1 has been a multi-year saga in the background … until now.

First, let me say that Herta has my utmost respect for making such a bold move in leaving behind everything he’s ever known to chase a seat at the pinnacle of global motorsport. I look at this decision with the same reverence I did Shane van Gisbergen when he left behind a comfortable career in Supercars to face the giants of NASCAR, all while knowing he would face a substantial uphill climb on ovals.

Whether you see it as brave or foolish, there aren’t many drivers or people in general who would willingly give up what they’re good at to take on an unknown challenge with the eyes of the world upon them. 

But that right there is what makes Herta’s decision so important. The eyes of the racing world will be on him, and many of those eyes are filled with doubt, preconceived notions and judgment. 

Some will view this move as a slight against IndyCar, but I really don’t see it that way. I think the prevailing opinion on this side of the pond is that people are either excited for Herta or sad to see the likable driver go. However, there are those who do see it as an insult, believe he is destined for failure, or just don’t understand his desire to race in F1. As for the world he is venturing into, some have already reacted with outright skepticism or thoughtful comments like ‘Who?’ following news that the IndyCar veteran will become the Cadillac F1 team’s test driver.

Representing IndyCar and the USA

While a lot of that is just silly internet noise, where this could actually hurt IndyCar’s image is if Herta makes this grand journey and ultimately fails. Whether he desires to be so or not, he is now the representative for America and IndyCar itself as he tries to break into the cutthroat world of Formula 1. He’s been hyped up as this all-American talent for years and now he must deliver on that promise.

And while Herta is still a few super license points away from even being able to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix, it’s hard to believe he’s going to go all this way without eventually making it onto the grid. The last US-born driver to start an F1 race was Logan Sargeant, and that didn’t go particularly well.

And that is why they need to map this out carefully. The easy part will be gaining the remaining super license points, as he can do that through FP1 outings with Cadillac, a full season in F2 or a combination of both.

Why F2 move is needed

Colton Herta, Andretti Global

Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen via Getty Images

On Thursday, it was announced that he will make a shock switch to F2, which is pretty much unprecedented for a star IndyCar driver. He is basically taking a step backwards in his career right now with the goal of taking two steps forward in the future, but it may be necessary. It’s what Trackhouse did with SVG in NASCAR, using his one year in the Xfinity Series to get him used to the world of NASCAR before throwing him into the deep end. He was competing for Rookie of the Year against a driver 16 years younger than him (and lost that battle), but it certainly helped him have a better grasp on the sport before jumping into Cup.

If Herta takes a similar path, then he will become acclimated with the race weekend procedures, be able to learn some unfamiliar circuits that also appear on the F1 calendar, and just have a better grasp on everything in that world. At the same time, his test driver role will be a great way to spend time learning the Cadillac F1 car without constant external scrutiny.

But it’s also worth noting that the European racing scene isn’t some completely foreign thing to him. In 2015, he raced in the MSA Championship, placing third in points while Lando Norris won the title. He was third in the 2016 EuroFormula Open championship, second in the 2016 Spanish F3 championship, and a race winner in just a handful of starts competing in BRDC British F3 that same year.

What’s at stake

Colton Herta, Andretti Global

Photo by: Geoff Miller / Lumen via Getty Images

In the end, the question isn’t if Herta is quick enough, because he is, but can he tackle the enormous learning curve in front of him, and most importantly, face the pressure of the moment while avoiding the unfortunate errors that have plagued his IndyCar career? 

If it doesn’t go well and he becomes just the latest American to flame out after trying to break into F1, it won’t just be his reputation that takes a hit, but the reputation of IndyCar on the world stage. It will also deter others who have similar dreams from pursuing the same path. 

I wouldn’t call it a career-killer as he can always return to IndyCar, but for those voices who believe IndyCar is nothing more than a place for drivers who couldn’t make it to F1, they would feel vindicated. Cadillac will take a hit as their attempt to foster an American talent goes up in smoke, and Herta will have burned away year(s) of his career when he could have been racing for IndyCar titles.

However, if he succeeds and even outperforms set expectations, then what a huge win that would be for IndyCar’s status internationally, and the enthusiasm it would bring from American race fans. Sargeant didn’t have the fervent backing of US racing diehards because they didn’t know him. That’s because he climbed the European racing ladder to reach F1, but to have a beloved driver who has been racing in America for years make the switch and perform — his popularity at home would skyrocket. 

But regardless of where this journey leads — triumph or failure — Herta should be praised in the meantime for simply daring to go and do this, as it truly is the gamble of a lifetime.