On March 24, 2019, Colton Herta made history by becoming the youngest winner of an IndyCar race at the Circuit of the Americas, achieving victory with the Harding Steinbrenner Racing team at just 18 years and 359 days. This was the starting point for a promising career in IndyCar with Andretti, although the championship crown or a win at the Indianapolis 500 has eluded him so far.
Recently, Herta has left a comfortable position in IndyCar to pursue his dream of competing in Formula 1. He is currently a Cadillac driver, seeking to gain experience in Europe and points for the super license, completing test sessions and private tests as he navigates the complicated world of Formula 2. Unfortunately, his season has not gone as expected, sitting in 19th place with just 26 points, and his last scoring with Hitech dates back to the Belgian round before the summer break.
With the season calendar still awaiting conclusion with tests in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Herta has expressed his frustration: ‘I am disappointed with the course of the year. It has not been good at all,’ he admitted, reflecting on his concerns about the future.
The latest free practice session at COTA provided him with a unique opportunity to reconnect with his past, as he was able to drive a Formula 1 car at the same circuit where he achieved his first IndyCar victory. ‘It was very nice. It felt super special to be able to do it here at home, in front of my fans, with Cadillac. It had been seven years since I was here, and it was good to see the progress,’ said Herta.
Reflecting on his 2019 milestone, he said: ‘This is where it all started. It was my third race in IndyCar, I had a good start and managed to lead,’ thinking back to the moment when his small team achieved two victories.
The test with Cadillac was also an opportunity to develop the car for 2027, and Herta completed 21 laps, finishing in 21st place. ‘We did some aerodynamic tests that took up half the session, but everything went as planned,’ he added, hoping to accumulate more points for the FIA super license.
Despite his struggles in Formula 2, Herta keeps his sights set on his goal of reaching Formula 1 with Cadillac. ‘My goal is to be in Formula 1 as soon as possible with Cadillac,’ he stated, emphasizing that he does not rule out another step in Formula 2 if his situation with Cadillac does not change. A year without racing does not fit into his plans: ‘I want to have a program that allows me to compete, I’m at a crucial moment in my career.’
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
