Colton Herta may very well be on the transfer to System 2 in 2026 with the intention to chase extra Tremendous License factors for a future System 1 drive, RACER understands.
The IndyCar star races for TWG Motorsports-run Andretti, and was linked with one of many Cadillac F1 seats however any outdoors probability of touchdown one was ended by his lack of an FIA Tremendous License. Offered Kyle Kirkwood takes half in Sunday’s race in Nashville, Herta can end no larger than sixth on this 12 months’s IndyCar standings – which would depart him on 37 of the required 40 factors – and he might theoretically drop outdoors the highest 10, for a three-year complete of 31.
As a step on the F1 feeder sequence ladder, F2 affords the required 40 factors to the highest three finishers within the championship, with double figures for your entire high six. Of extra worth, your entire championship races on the F1 undercard, that includes race weekends at 14 of the 24 grand prix venues this 12 months, whereas it additionally makes use of high-degradation Pirelli tires.
Herta beforehand raced in Europe in 2015 and 2016, however has by no means competed within the official F1 feeder sequence of F2 or F3.
With Cadillac having dedicated to the skilled pairing of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for its debut season in F1, inserting nine-time IndyCar winner Herta in F2 would permit him an opportunity to achieve additional information of the sequence and work intently with the group, getting ready him for a future race seat if and when he secures a Tremendous License.
RACER has information of a number of groups in F2 being approached about the potential of operating Herta, however it’s not but clear if any discussions have materialized into an settlement. Andretti would want to safe a alternative for Herta in IndyCar earlier than sanctioning such a transfer, and Will Energy is believed to be among the many choices.
The exploration of a transfer to F2 for Herta tallies with feedback from TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss through the bulletins referring to Perez and Bottas in the beginning of this week, when he mentioned: “It is necessary to us to verify there is a pathway for an American driver into System 1, and we’ll be engaged on that”.
On the time, when instantly requested if he was contemplating inserting Herta in F2, Towriss replied: “No, that is not what we’re reporting at the moment, no.”
