Formula 1 may gain another strong name coming from the United States in the coming years. Bruno Michel, CEO of Formula 2, showed confidence in Colton Herta’s potential and believes the driver can have a very strong debut season in the category in 2026.
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Herta switched from IndyCar to F2 to pursue the dream of reaching Formula 1. The American signed with Hitech and also became a test driver for Cadillac F1, a team for which he will participate in four TL1 sessions throughout the season, starting in Barcelona.
Even still adapting to the new environment, Herta has already scored points in the two main races held so far in F2. The driver finished seventh in Melbourne and was eighth in Miami, precisely at the stage held at home for American motorsport.
Bruno Michel highlighted that the presence of Herta and also Sebastian Montoya helped strengthen the interest of the promoters of the Miami and Montreal races in bringing Formula 2 to North America. “Colton just arrived, but he is already a very established driver in the United States and a winner in IndyCar,” he said. “It was a positive surprise for everyone.”
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The executive acknowledged that adaptation is not simple. According to Michel, Herta now faces a completely different scenario from that experienced in IndyCar, with different cars, tires, weekend format, and opponent profiles. “He is racing against young people aged 18, 19, and 20 coming from Formula 3. I am sure this is a bit surprising for him,” he commented.
Despite this, the CEO of Formula 2 showed full confidence in the American driver’s talent. “I have zero doubts about his ability. He is extremely talented. He just needs a little time to get used to the championship and the format,” Michel concluded.
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