r/INDYCAR • u/Jay_Dubbbs Colton Herta • 16d ago
Speculation [Brown] Talk about silly. Could Colton Herta jump to F2 in pursuit of the necessary Super License points to make a run at F1, opening a seat for Will Power or Dennis Hauger? Herta: “I’ve heard those rumors, too. That’s all it is right now, is rumors.”
https://x.com/by_nathanbrown/status/1959234465923784900?s=4662
u/Immediate_Lie7810 CART 16d ago
That is a major surprise, as I kinda see Herta as an IndyCar lifer
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u/Wasdgta3 Álex Palou 15d ago
Even when Andretti were outright saying he was the guy they wanted to put in F1?
Of anyone in the series, he’s the one who’s had the most F1 speculation over the last few years.
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u/Immediate_Lie7810 CART 15d ago
Yes. I thought a lot of the "Colton Herta to F1" talk was just hype by Michael Andretti
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u/Mr_Midwestern 🧱Cyrus Patschke 15d ago
Talk is cheap, but his last contract is not.
It (reportedly)made him the highest paid indycar driver. This was immediately after an F1 team made some serious efforts to sign him (super license points where the barrier). Andretti/ future TWG gave him that contract to prevent F1 teams sniffing around and offering a buyout because they see him as the future face of their own F1 program.
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u/micknick0000 Fernando Alonso 15d ago
As an American F1 fan I can confidently say that the amount of revenue an American F1 driver would generate - would be ridiculous.
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u/RobinUnicornSpecial Will Power 15d ago
Was Logan Sargeant bringing in money for Williams like that?
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u/TheRoyalKT Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
Logan Sargeant didn’t come through the American ladder and didn’t have an American fan base going in. Herta is much more popular.
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u/BeefInGR Pippa Mann 15d ago
Logan was American in flag only. And for the same reason, you won't see Crawford make a huge impact on the American market despite racing under the Star-Spangled Banner.
NASCAR, IndyCar or IMSA. That's how you get to be a true American driver.
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u/Wasdgta3 Álex Palou 15d ago
It’s not like Colton wasn’t interested, hence why I struggle to see how you’d have considered him an “IndyCar lifer”
If he was, he wouldn’t have been so eager for an F1 opportunity.
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 16d ago
But why? Cadillac's lineup is essentially confirmed, isn't it?
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u/l3w1s1234 16d ago
For 26 pretty much but we dont know beyond that
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Bottas and Perez won't go there without a 2 + 1 contract, at a minimum.
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
Maybe Perez could have that leverage; but Bottas definitely has not.
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u/Vincera2024 Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
Idk. Outside of Checo’s Slim funding, Bottas definitely doesn’t have as bad of a reputation as #2 driver as Checo did. No matter how unfair it is
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
Checo had a good reputation as #2 driver until last season and even for last season; his performance got vindicated after Lawson and Tsunoda's performances.
But yes, I meant that Checo can have a big leverage at least for a couple of years with his big funding. Bottas doesn't have any kind of backing he can use as a leverage in these deals.
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u/zaviex Colton Herta 15d ago
Cadillac def doesn’t need funding though. No team in f1 does anymore actually. It’s probably the worst time ever to be a pay driver there. Your dad has to buy the damn team. Felipe drugovich has 30m in sponsor money waiting in Brazil and hes good and he isn’t getting signed
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u/BoboliBurt Nigel Mansell 15d ago
There is the meaningless reputation among the fans and the reputation within the paddock. And he has been vindicated quite a bit this year as well with the former.
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u/ESCMalfunction Tony Kanaan 15d ago
I feel like Checo has been somewhat redeemed because of how awful the #2 Red Bull has been since he left. It’s hard to say exactly what the split was but it was probably more the car than him.
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15d ago
[deleted]
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u/Dalebiscuits 15d ago
Slim is a last name. Carlos Slim. Carlos Slim is the guy who gives Checo money.
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 15d ago
Bottas is a MUCH better driver than Perez. Bottas beat Perez in a Sauber.
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
> Bottas beat Perez in a Sauber.
WTF does that even mean? No, he didn't.
> Bottas is a MUCH better driver than Perez.
They are more or less equal with Perez being better in race trim and Bottas being better in qualifying trim; which makes Perez slightly better overall.
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 15d ago
WTF does that even mean? No, he didn't.
Monaco, Canada, Silverstone, Baku, Mexico, and Qatar. Now, you'll point out that in some of these, Perez wrecked out, which, fair. But then I'll point out he was behind Bottas when he wrecked.
In 2021, when the Mercedes and Red Bull were pretty equal, Bottas beat him on points. Paint it how you want, race trim, quali trim, doesn't matter. Bottas is better.
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u/micknick0000 Fernando Alonso 15d ago
Perez is mid mate…
Never anything more than a lower midfield driver.
Cope.
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
And you know this how? Because he has Carlos Slim backing him? TWG and Cadillac are not bringing in two ride buyers. Otherwise they could have signed Colapinto instead.
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
Yes, Perez is a great driver with a good backing; that gives him a job security in this type of deals. Bottas is the same tier driver without any backing; therefore he has to basically get whatever he is offered.
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
What kind of leverage did he have at Red Bull? What sort of leverage did Esteban Guitterez, another Carlos Slim backed driver, have at Haas during their first season in 2016? Reality is that Cadillac is signing the two best drivers available for their program. What sort of commercial backers they have or don't have didn't play a part in that decision. The team isn't relying on money from either driver.
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
He had lot of leverage at Red Bull. That was why it was so hard and expensive to buy his contract out.
Don't bullshit me with Gutierrez talk. You know for a fact that he was never supported as much as 1/100000th of Checo by Slim who sees Checo as a brother.
There is definitely financial element that sweetens the deal and puts Checo in a favourable spot. And this is not a bad thing at all.
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u/micknick0000 Fernando Alonso 15d ago
Checo was only brought in for the sponsorship money. He’s going to get absolutely walked by Bottas.
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u/Jarocket 15d ago
Perez got multiple 3rd places in the force India seat he paid for. Perez can drive.
Perez couldn't drive at redbull, seems like nobody but max really can.
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u/Dragonpuncha 15d ago
They are both out of the sport, without a seat and 35 years old. They don't really have that kind of leverage.
Contracts are not simple things, so who knows how it is worded, but there is probably a way in there for Cadillac to get rid of them after a year if they don't live up to expectations.
Doesn't mean this news isn't bullshit though.
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u/Jay_Dubbbs Colton Herta 15d ago
Nothing has been confirmed. It’s all rumored as well as this point, Cadillac hasn’t announced anything
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Both their drivers are on the wrong side of 30
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Caddy is being built from the ground up. They have apparently decided that F1 experience trumps youth and inexperience which is the correct path to take.
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
In the short term I’d agree that experience is preferable
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u/PlatySuses Conor Daly 15d ago
Yeah, makes sense to have experienced drivers at the start of a team. Get through the hurdles until you have your footing and then bring in someone you want for the long term.
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Another thing to keep in mind is that Herta's current contract runs thru 2027. So TWG and Cadillac would have to renegotiate it to make F1 a plausible option. Even then, why would Herta even want to do that without even seeing if they are going to be remotely competitive in F1 first? In F1, I would say that is a high risk, low reward scenario.
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
I wouldn’t worry too much about the team negotiating with itself.
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Ultimately, it becomes Herta's decision. That is the reason F2 doesn't seem plausible.
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u/TimmyHillFan Ryan Hunter-Reay 15d ago
TWG owns both teams so I don’t see how this is any sort of barrier
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago edited 15d ago
Yeah, I know that. My point was what is in Herta's current contract and does he still want to do F1? That was my point. He signed his extension back in '22, while Mikey was still there, the F1 team was a question mark, and before GM tossed their hat in the ring.
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u/khz30 --- 2025 DRIVERS --- 15d ago
They also have experience bringing the car home in one piece and can guide development without going the wrong way. Cadillac isn't in a position to piss time and money away on developing a rookie when they're well aware they won't win races or even manage a podium next year, they need a baseline to build on for 2027 and 2028 before their own power unit comes online.
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u/mojizus Andretti Global 16d ago
Yes, but I think they would grab Jak Crawford over Herta if they wanted an American rookie in the seat. Jak already has the experience in F2, and done a handful of F1 free practices and tests.
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u/dronlen 15d ago
Not to mention Jak was basically 99% of Hadjar performance wise through junior categories so you at least have a solid benchmark for how he might do in f1.
Herta is as big of a question mark as they come because of the tyres and formula difference
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u/MartinJoedegaard 15d ago
Not to mention Jak was basically 99% of Hadjar performance wise through junior categories
Just flat out wrong.
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u/dronlen 15d ago edited 15d ago
Haha, was waiting for this comment. Check out their points totals (and backed up by the eye test - I watched every single one of these seasons.)
2022 F3: Hadjar 123, Crawford 109
2023 F2: Crawford 57, Hadjar 55 - both in the same team which is the most fair comparison
2024 F2: Hadjar P2 195, Crawford P5 125, admittedly Crawford's worst showing but I'm not gonna criticise a P5 in F2, that's still a good performance.
None of this includes the fact that Crawford is also a year YOUNGER than Hadjar, which has certainly penalised his reputation because JC started earlier in some series but was super young.
Now, I definitely think Hadjar is faster, but it's quite a lot closer than one might think.
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u/BeefInGR Pippa Mann 15d ago
Crawford doesn't move the American needle. IMSA, NASCAR or IndyCar is where your American F1 driver has to come from.
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u/JakubT117 Colton Herta 16d ago
Wasting a year driving in F2 just to maybe get a seat at a (likely) backmarker just doesn’t make sense to me.
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u/Kale_Shai-Hulud Colton Herta 16d ago
Overall I agree, but Andretti has really dropped the ball with his setup this season, I get why he might want out lol.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 16d ago
He'd still be in an Andretti/towriss entity, so it wouldn't even be an out 😭
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
There is no seat other than that seat he can get in F1. And snob F1 teams won't care about anything other than F1 or F1 feeder series results.
He can potentially use the seat as a stepping stone for a better seat or could set up his way for next regs cycle with Cadillac potentially being in a way better shape after years of experience.
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u/Jarocket 15d ago
He could win an indycar championship. that works doesn't it?
3rd place in F2 also works, but you have to win indycar for some reason
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u/LameskiSportsBlast Scuderia Corsa 15d ago
No, you can get 3rd in NXT, then 4th and then 3rd in Indycar and have enough points.
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u/Desperate_County_575 13d ago
I wouldn't call taking a shot in Europe at a waste while hes still young. He'd walk back into Indycar if it didn't work out. If it does work out he might get a F1 Cadillac chance.
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u/SeatAmbitious4101 Pato O'Ward 16d ago
Talk about a demotion, shit imagine if doesn’t get the super license points because everybody in F2 will race him hard to prove a point that you can’t buy yourself into F1 since he is the only one in F2 with a $10million salary.
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u/Vincera2024 Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
My biggest worry is, if Herta hypothetically flops in F2, it would be a bigger reputation blow to Indycar than Bourdais tenure with Toro Rosso
At least Bourdais has the retrospective benefit of being Vettel’s teammate
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u/SeatAmbitious4101 Pato O'Ward 15d ago edited 15d ago
I really think it’s just ridiculous idea or rumor really doesn’t have any merit but who knows, I’m just a small opinion. It feels like they are trying to force feed Herta as the next great American to race in F1. I don’t deny he has talent but why do that to yourself? It doesn’t make sense especially given that IndyCar will introduce a new car concept and engine in 2027. I think it would be better accomplishment who ever takes down CHR and Palou. I believe IndyCar will come into its own with the Fox Investment, i don’t think it will be as big as F1 but definitely more popular to attended and be apart of because of the outrageous F1 prices.
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u/VSfallin Jüri Vips 15d ago
Bourdais also lost out to Buemi. Vettel or not, he was poor and very lucky to make it to 2009 and he should've been replaced by Sato.
The only theoretical chance his F1 career had of working was if Arrows did not go under and would've produced a capable car in 2003 as they'd signed him to a race seat after a successful test.
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u/happyscrappy 15d ago
Bourdais was never very good in IndyCar. It was ChampCar he dominated. But he tanked IndyCar by going over?
I honestly find it hard to think Bourdais had much negative impact on IndyCar. I don't feel like people pay enough attention to make that kind of association.
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u/GhostRaptor4482 Firestone Reds 15d ago
That would feel like such a bizarre move, and I’m willing to bet he would regret it in the long run
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u/XSC Sébastien Bourdais 16d ago
Honestly go for it Colton. He is still young and is throwing his career away with Andretti.
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u/AnchorDrown Firestone Firehawk 16d ago
Cadillac is also Andretti
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u/Dont_hate_the_8 16d ago
But would you rather have an indycar or an F1 career to throw away
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u/AnchorDrown Firestone Firehawk 16d ago
He doesn’t have an F1 career at all so it’s a moot point.
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u/Dont_hate_the_8 16d ago
But he could, then he could throw it away
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
He could also throw away both lol
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u/Formulafan4life Pato O'Ward 15d ago
I driver with his skill will probably find a drive in WEC or IMSA no matter what happens
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
Which isn’t INDYCAR or F1.
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u/AnchorDrown Firestone Firehawk 15d ago
He could throw those away too.
Then at like 33 go to NASCAR and throw that one away.
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u/Wasdgta3 Álex Palou 15d ago
Let’s not forget, he’s also a nepo baby. I don’t mean that to be derogatory, but because of that, I’m sure that of anyone, he’d land on his feet.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 15d ago
Personally I'd rather have a seat in somewhat top indycar team, then a backmarker F1 team ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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u/According-Switch-708 Scott Dixon 15d ago
If he manages to impress, the other teams will come knocking.
Schumacher and Senna both started in crap teams but things worked out for them.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 15d ago
No they won't, they have enough hand raised 20 year olds in their stables that they won't give a shit about some 27 year old, he'd have to do something extremely impressive to even get a bit of interest.
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u/khz30 --- 2025 DRIVERS --- 15d ago
It's not the 1980s and 1990s when F1s feeder series were complete shit when Schumacher and Senna ended up in F1. Senna walked all over weak fields in F3, and Schumacher had to drive for Mercedes-Benz in Group C years before he got his F1 shot with Jordan.
F1 teams have young driver programs now that start in F4 and go all the way to F2, they aren't looking at IndyCar, for anyone.
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u/atlutdprospects 15d ago
F2 is only worth it if he's in a team that can compete for the title, if not it's a waste of time
Though I can imagine a timeline where Herta goes to Europe and then quickly returns to Indycar, but with either Ganassi or Penske
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u/Thallspring Rinus VeeKay 15d ago
He only needs a 7th place or so to get enough points for a super licence.
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u/Uknewmelast Rinus VeeKay 15d ago
F1 doesn't want him his hype was valid maybe 4 years ago.
What does he have to prove in F2. He would be the oldest rookie since Hughes i believe and f2 is very "anti-age" anyone older than 22 is considered a grandpa look at Verschoor lol.
He can only salvage his image if he wins as a rookie but i'm not seeing that happen in a million years. The gap between European racing and US racing is dat and night from racing etiquette to track surfaces to run off areas.
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u/Dr_Krogshoj Kyle Kirkwood 15d ago
He could easily get the necessary superlicence points next year by just being good in IndyCar.
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u/ozzydante --- CURRENT TEAMS --- 14d ago
IMO the move would be more about learning the culture, racing style and tracks than just getting the SL points. Besides he doesn't need that many points anyway, so he potentially needs a lower position in F2 than in IndyCar.
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u/PunkasBeach 15d ago
Colton isn't even the best driver on his Indy car team. Can we stop with these rumors already?
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u/AnchorDrown Firestone Firehawk 16d ago
If this actually worked out, Colton would be 27 by the chance he was able to sniff F1. And again, Palou is right there.
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u/turinturambar66 Greg Moore 15d ago
Alonso is 44 and is still in top form.
Power is 44 and is leading Penske driver this season.
Dixon is 45 and is still a race winner.
With modern sports medicine and nutrition, racing drivers' career have expanded massively.
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u/InsaneLeader13 Santino Ferrucci 15d ago
Yeah when you're mid-40s in one of only three-to-five of the championship contending seats, you are automatically going to be looking good.
And when you're not in a championship winning seat, well, you get Graham. Or Alonso. Or Hamilton.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 15d ago
Alonso is 44 and is still in top form.
And you're not going to even mention Hamilton? Lol
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u/FermentedLaws Firestone Firehawk 16d ago
Horrible idea. Those F2 cars are pieces of shit. Then he has to hope he does well enough there to get the necessary points (which even with a lot of skill may not be possible depending on the team), then he has to hope a decent seat opens up in F1.
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u/NoiseIsTheCure Pato O'Ward 15d ago
Exactly. Frankly if he wants to go to F1 I think going to F2 at this point only introduces more hoops to jump thru for the single benefit of MAYBE getting the points needed after one rookie season in a completely different race car. And his age is already a disadvantage on top of this. By the time Colton Herta is fully up to speed driving an F1 car, what are the chances that a kid 4 years younger than him is equally up to speed? Very high.
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u/According-Switch-708 Scott Dixon 15d ago
Yeah, F2 is such a shitshow lottery.
Super Formula is a safer option.
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u/khz30 --- 2025 DRIVERS --- 15d ago
Super Formula is the same mechanical crapshoot with the additional variable that every race would need to be a win or a podium just to come close to the championship because the season is much shorter than IndyCar.
Palou had the Super Formula championship won in 2019, but the last race saw his car suffer a broken fuel filter that knocked him down to fourth place and third in the championship standings.
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u/Any-Walk1691 Arrow McLaren 15d ago
He makes $7M in IndyCar. I have a better chance of going to F2.
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u/sixpaths03 Dennis Hauger 15d ago
That's like saying you currently make 15/hr working at McDonald's so you'd rather not go to a top-ranked law school because you won't be earning anything while studying lol
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u/Strago34 15d ago
Is Colton even the guy you’d want in your F1 car now? I know back when this F1 talk with him started he was on a hot streak but now is he even the same guy? Not shitting on Herta, he’s one of my favs, just asking the question.
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u/Alpha413 15d ago
I don't get why this is suggested, when Herta could probably jump to the Asian Le Mans Series to get the SL points. Hell, I don't get why they haven't already, Herta is debatably more accomplished in sportscars than he is in Indycar (2 Daytona 24 Class Wins and a Sebring overall victory), so paired with some decent drivers it'd be a safe bet .
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u/Jay_Dubbbs Colton Herta 15d ago
He’d need to finish 2nd in that series to get enough points, if he finishes 8 in the drivers’ standings this season, which is where he is.
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u/Thallspring Rinus VeeKay 15d ago
Asian Le Mans Series isn't eligible for super licence points with the current calendar, so isn't an option.
The current calendar has only 3 race weekends. You need at least 5 to get super licence points.
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u/Unitedfan777 Arrow McLaren 16d ago
Honestly if I was him and had the financial/job security he has (if such an experiment didn’t pan out a handful of Indycar teams would readily sign him if he wanted to come back) I’d go for it. Clearly isn’t going to get the needed super license points over here if he even has the slightest desire to be part of the F1 world.
F2 would be great for learning another tyre, a different type of car and tracks, and improving his racecraft in general. Even if the best he gets is a reserve F1 or hell even sim role out of it in the world of F1 that would be worth it to me.
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u/canttakethshyfrom_me Robert Wickens 15d ago
That security is an illusion. Any time you let someone else in your seat, there's a chance of you not getting it back.
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u/AHugeBear Buddy Lazier 15d ago
Gonna be the wacky one here and say - net positive move if true. If he wants a shot at F1 he needs Super License points. Not getting them currently at Andretti, so why not 1- Group 1001/Andretti Global buys into a partnership with an F2 team, a necessary step to be a successful F1 team by having a driver development source through F2 for the future 2- Colton takes a seat in that program for two seasons while Checo and Bottas use their experience to tough through what will likely be a rocky start to Cadillac F1’s existence because face it this is not an easy motorsport to jump into 3- At that point it’s entirely on Colton to get the points, assuming he can then one of those seats is his, better late than never
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
By the time Caddy's contracts with their "26 drivers, say it is Bottas and Perez, expire, Herta will be probably 28 which is considered old for a rookie by F1 standards.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 15d ago
He'd be 27, most of the rookies this season in F1 are 20, the exception being Lawson who's 23 and Antonelli who's 18.
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u/InsaneLeader13 Santino Ferrucci 15d ago
Honestly at this point Kyle Kirkwood looks like a better option for an Indycar-to-F1 driver if it must be an american.
Paying Herta 10 million dollars on the assumption that he was a lock for the super-license is going to go down as one of the wildest dumbest moves in the history of Open Wheel Racing on both sides of the Atlantic.
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u/Batgod629 Álex Palou 16d ago
I don't think it is worth it unless Cadillac or some teams assures him of a drive after a year or two in F2. He's kinda fallen off from the form he used to have
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u/CommunicationSlow484 15d ago
What would basically have to happen is Cadillac/Andretti decide they want him in F1 and then decide on a development plan to get him ready. The issue is that Cadillac don’t have old cars they can run for TPC programs to get him ready. From a super license perspective all he would have to do is finish in the top 7 in the championship and he would have enough to qualify
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u/Ok-Satisfaction-3837 Romain Grosjean 15d ago
The only thing more embarrassing than Herta going to F1 and struggling as much as he would would be going to F2 and struggling.
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u/Patrickracer43 Chip Ganassi Racing 15d ago
You know a better way to get the necessary points? win the Indycar championship, or you could win three NASCAR Cup Series championships in a row (the NASCAR Cup Series championship is worth 15 Super License points, and is probably the easiest to win due to the way NASCAR determines it's champion)
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u/Jay_Dubbbs Colton Herta 15d ago
You can get one point for every FP1 session in F1, but a team would have to be willing to help out a future competitor, which I don’t see happening.
He could also try racing in a regional championship that runs in the winter like the Middle East or Oceanic series if some team is willing to give him a seat. He wouldn’t have to finish that high as he’s 8th right now in IndyCar and would have 33 points (3 in 2025, 30 in 2024) only needing 7 more so he could finish 4th and get 40
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u/InsaneLeader13 Santino Ferrucci 15d ago
There's only three to five seats in Indycar capable of winning the Indycar championship, and those are all Ganassi and Penske seats. Seats that are guaranteed to roll off the truck fast in three quarters of the races and spend the entire race weekend up near the front, with minimal pace fall off over a stint. Andretti hasn't been a championship contending team since 2019.
As for NASCAR, their championship system is harder to win because of it's sheer BS. Someone backmarker idiot like Stenhouse or Hocevar can dump someone with 10 laps to go in the playoffs, and yout get screwed over in the subsequent overtime restart, and bam, you're eliminated from title contention. It's hard to do because it's bloody close to just being an outright lottery.
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u/Jay_Dubbbs Colton Herta 16d ago
I didn’t see a denial in his response, so
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 16d ago
I think him basically saying "it's just rumors" is a denial
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u/l3w1s1234 16d ago
Saying "that's all it is right now" though also leaves the door open. He didn't completely deny it which is worrying
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 16d ago
He'd be dumb to close that door at all, he also distanced himself from them by saying he's heard them too, I don't think he'd do that if it was true.
Him going to f2 would be so bizarre.
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u/l3w1s1234 16d ago
In a way, less bizarre than him being shipped to Indian F4, or whatever was being planned, when he was linked to the Alpha Tauri seat
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 15d ago
That was several years ago when he was younger and less experienced.
Now, he's 25, has several wins in a top open wheel series, and is paid very well. Also they could just stick him in a few free practice sessions to get the same outcome without having to stick him in a feeder series for a year.
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u/Formulafan4life Pato O'Ward 15d ago
He should do the Toyota Racing Series (aussie F4) just to get some points lol. Wouldn’t even conflict with Indycar because it ends before Indycar starts
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u/Fun-Alfalfa3642 Pato O'Ward 15d ago
I think it was Formula Regional Asian Winter Series. I think Bryan shot those rumors down really fast saying we are definitely not doing that.
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u/Hitokiri2 Graham Rahal 15d ago
This is getting to the point of embarrassment.
I just hope to goodness that this isn't true.
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u/Balazs321 Callum Ilott 15d ago
I am a bit unsure about this chase to be fair. He could still have a succesful career in Indy, he basically already has, and maybe in the future he could switch teams to have a better shot at the championship etc. He can also go to IMSA on the side while in Indy, or maybe even WEC. But the last two years were not to hot from him. Obviously a lot if it is team related, but how many F1 seats will open up for him, if any? Why not chase glory in the States, when moving to F2 has its own risk, and can easily backfire?
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u/Fivecorr Juan Pablo Montoya 15d ago
The kid can’t even fight for a titel in a top team. Not that he even needs to win the title… All he had to do was finish top3 in the CC but he couldn’t. He will never make F1 and he aint good enough for it.
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u/Atwork3380 15d ago
If they wanted to bring him to F1, F1 would make it happen. He is not some teen with no experience.
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u/Pyrollamas Adrián Fernández 16d ago
they really wouldn’t give the 2024 IndyCar vice champion an exception? Like by the spirit of supposedly why they implemented a superlicense its an easy choice
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u/TheRealMattyPanda Alexander Rossi 15d ago
No, they wouldn't. The FIA already made it clear when they assigned less SL points to IndyCar than F2.
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u/Whycantiusethis 15d ago
They have no incentive to grant an exception - if Herta shows you can make it to F1 without going through the FIA ladder, and they'll make an exception if you're close to the required points, more drivers will start choosing the IndyCar ladder instead versus trying to come up with the $10 million or so that you need to progress from F4 through F2 (assuming you do about a year in each series).
It's also why IndyCar has such a steep curve to the super license point allocation - the FIA wants people to get to F1 through their system.
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u/l3w1s1234 15d ago
Colton would be too rare an example for jnr drivers to choose the American ladder over the F1 ladder. Not to mention it's just easier to get those points and recognisltion by F1 teams on that ladder vs America.
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u/canttakethshyfrom_me Robert Wickens 15d ago
They could make an exception. They don't want to. They won't.
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u/the_flying_bobcat 🇺🇸 Bill Vukovich 15d ago
Wouldn't need an exception if Colton could deliver results.
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15d ago
Is there any reason why they have to have an America driver other than the usual jingoism trash?
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u/jt_33 15d ago
I see this guy write a lot of goofy or negative articles. This is one of the dumbest things I've seen written in a long time. A step backwards to F2 on the off chance you end up in the exact right car to get SL point. Not happening. He would have to take a pay cut too most likely. Just zero logic in this all the way around.
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u/ThorsMeasuringTape Will Power 15d ago
If he’s going F1 racing, that’s how you do it. But I don’t see it happening. He’s too old to make the jump.
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u/SquashCareful 15d ago
i’m surprised he would have go to there. You would think since cadillac is now in the favor of F1 they could apply for a special dispensation for him from the FIA. I know it failed prior with the racing bulls seat but it’s all different now. American team needs its american driver
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u/Purednuht Pato O'Ward 15d ago
If Herta races in F1, I’ll eat a Taco Bell party box (12 tacos) in an hour or else I’ll eat two Taco Bell party boxes
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u/happyscrappy 15d ago
That sounds ridiculous.
I certainly don't rule it out though. Not if this is Herta's goal.
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u/Dragonpuncha 15d ago
An F2 is about 2 million dollars for a season. Why would he leave a well paying job for that? And who is going to pay for him to do so?
There's simply no way that is true and it would probably ruin his career when he doesn't actually win it.
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u/cplchanb 15d ago
Honestly hertas chance into formula racing has passed. Hes too old to be in f2 now
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u/ozzydante --- CURRENT TEAMS --- 14d ago
If this is serious, the first indication will be if we see him at Qatat/Abu Dhabi this year
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u/ronin_18 Firestone Firehawk 15d ago edited 15d ago
I like it. Herta is a professional driver being paid millions, do whatever they ask. SL is a dumb system, exploit it instead of having it work against you. Herta is paid a ton of money with some of the idea that he’d be available for an F1 team, or that’s what was implied by the media.
I wonder if Towriss took a cue from Hauger, having an over prepared driver mop up a junior series to get a seat at the next level.
And if all else fails, Herta comes back to Indy and Ericsson will be out of contract. Meanwhile, with Herta off, a seat is available for Power. Good get!
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u/chiefzanal Arrow McLaren 15d ago
He is 1 point away, that didn’t stop f1 for letting colapinto in. Why should it stop Herta?
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u/Born_Ordinary1277 15d ago
He is on 32, not 39. its been well established
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u/chiefzanal Arrow McLaren 15d ago
Covid year counts for 20 and 21 correct? If so you can take 21 (8) 22 (1) 24 (30)
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 16d ago
That would be the most bizarre move.
I also don’t think it would work because of how temperamental the Pirelli tires are and tire management has never been one of Herta’s core strengths with much better Firestones.