Colton Herta conceded that his Formula 2 switch is his “last shot” at securing a place in Formula 1, with the 2026 season set to get under way in Australia.

Nine-time IndyCar race winner and 2024 series runner-up Herta has long been linked with a move to F1. Previously on the books at McLaren as a development driver, the American was later the subject of interest from Racing Bulls, then AlphaTauri, and missed out on a 2023 race seat only after an exemption from the super licence points system was denied by the FIA.

To counter this block, Herta has joined Hitech for the coming F2 season. Also locked in as the test and reserve driver for Cadillac’s fledgling F1 effort, the 25-year-old is aware of what is at stake with his latest move.

“At the end of the day, it was my decision, and I saw it as my last opportunity to get to Formula 1,” he said. “I was super-grateful for it. There are plenty of series that I want to race in and compete in, but none that have the time constraints of Formula 1, so this really is probably my last shot of getting to it and I’m just very grateful for the opportunity with Cadillac.”

Of the pressure to make an immediate impact, he added, “I mean, for me, it's simple. The pressure comes from myself for the most part; pressure to perform. I'm not really worried too much about the outside world or competitors and whatnot. The main thing is to focus on myself and do what I can. I set standards quite high for myself. If I can reach those or beat those, it'll be a good year.”

While Cadillac has set a championship top 10 as Herta’s target, the driver himself has been more ambitious, with championship silverware in his sights.

“The goal for me every time I get in the race car is very simple, to be quicker than everybody. So, you know, we've seen what they've kind of set in the goals that they're kind of expecting of me.

“Personally, it's always worked in my career is that I expect myself to be good, I expect myself to be quick and contend for wins and podiums, and that's always my goal when I get inside the race car. So, for me, nothing's changed, but that's kind of what drives me. That's what gets the work ethic going, and that's what I need to do.”

Herta: F2 “almost a complete 180” from IndyCar

Aside from team-mate Ritomo Miyata, all of Herta’s peers have stepped into F2 from lower ranked categories, such as Formula 3. While there are similarities in the feel of the car between F2 and F3, the differences are far greater when compared to IndyCar of Super Formula, Miyata’s previous stomping ground.

Asked of this added challenge, Herta said: “How you find lap time in the car is almost a complete 180 to IndyCar and how you drive it, so I think there has been a big transition for me, and the driving style is quite different.

“So I still would say that I’m not 100% confident, but after those six days of Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, I definitely feel closer and am kind of starting to be a bit more confident of the car and what I should be doing.

“Obviously, we’re always trying to find lap time and to make ourselves better, but I think those are the fine points.”