Colton Herta is flat-out declaring he has “no interest” in sticking around for another F2 season, and honestly, who can blame him? The American F1 hopeful is likely heading back to the United States after a run in the feeder series that just hasn’t panned out. He took a huge gamble, stepping back from a solid IndyCar career to try his luck with Hitech GP, and now his shot at the pinnacle of motorsports is looking seriously bleak.
The F2 Grind Just Crushed His Hopes
This F2 season has been a rough one, plain and simple. Herta is stuck way down in 19th place in the standings with just 26 points. That’s nowhere near what anyone expected, especially for a talent like his. To make matters worse, he even missed both races in Madrid after a crash and then battled illness. He needs more Super Licence points to even sniff F1, and with only a handful of races left, he just won’t get them. As he told F1 Insider, “I don’t think so. As far as I know, I still need two [more] Super Licence points.” It’s a tough pill to swallow when you know the math just doesn’t add up.
What’s Next for Herta? And What Went Wrong With Hitech?
So, what’s a guy to do when his F1 dream hits this kind of roadblock? It sounds like a return to IndyCar is the most probable path for Herta, but he’s keeping it close to the vest, saying, “I think we’ll have to wait and see, but I have no interest in another year of Formula 2.” He admits, “Not at the moment and I don’t know when that will be” regarding his future. He’ll still be following F2, though, especially with the new cars coming in. He’s always been a fan, watching for over ten years, and he has serious respect for the drivers there. He’s interested in the new car’s downforce figures and how it races. It’s clear the frustration isn’t just with himself, but also with his team, Hitech GP. Herta isn’t sure what went wrong, but he’s adamant that they simply “have to improve.” He feels “we’re not fast enough in almost every area, which is frustrating for me.” It’s a brutal reality check, going from winning races in IndyCar to “fighting for rubbles” in F2.
Even without wins, Herta wanted to be competitive and in a fighting position, and that just didn’t happen. It’s not just Herta, either; sportscar racer Nico Varrone also left F2 after Madrid, which says something. Herta can only work on what he can influence and support his team, but the writing is on the wall. We’ll be watching closely to see where this talented American lands next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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