When I heard Colton Herta was joining Hitech for F2, my first reaction was relief. Hitech is a top-notch team. He’ll have the equipment to succeed.
Then the frustration hit.
Herta has nine IndyCar wins. Nineteen podiums across seven seasons. He finished runner-up in 2024. Yet he’s stepping down to F2 to race against younger, less experienced drivers in what’s technically a lower series than IndyCar.
The reason? He only has 35 superlicense points. He needs 40 to race in F1.
The System Works Exactly As Designed
The FIA built the superlicense structure to funnel drivers through their ladder: F4, F3, F2, then F1. It works perfectly for that purpose.
But it creates a strange reality for American drivers.
Fifth place in F2 earns you 20 superlicense points. Fifth in IndyCar gets you eight. The math tells you everything about how the FIA views American racing.
IndyCar is packed with experienced drivers who’ve raced across multiple series. The competition is fierce. You can win races and still not crack the top three in the championship standings.
Meanwhile, F2 is full of talented young drivers trying to break into top-level racing. They’re good, but most haven’t accumulated the seat time that comes from years in premier series.
The Pipeline Only Flows One Way Now
It wasn’t always like this.
Jacques Villeneuve won the Indy 500 in 1995, took the IndyCar championship, moved to F1 in 1996, and won the World Championship in 1997. Juan Pablo Montoya became IndyCar champion in 1999, won the Indy 500 in 2000, then grabbed seven F1 victories.
Both succeeded before the current superlicense system existed.
The talent used to flow both directions between American and European racing. Now it’s essentially one way: F1 drivers can move to IndyCar, but IndyCar drivers face a wall getting into F1.
The FIA still views IndyCar as second-tier. A place where drivers who couldn’t make it in Europe end up. They’re not trying to destroy American open-wheel racing, but they’re not exactly welcoming it either.
Herta Is The Proof Of Concept
That’s what makes this F2 move so significant.
Herta isn’t just collecting superlicense points. He’s a test subject. If he dominates F2, it exposes how arbitrary the system is. If he struggles, the FIA will use it as evidence that their point allocation is accurate.
The outcome won’t just affect Herta. It determines whether other talented American drivers follow this path or stick with NASCAR, where the money has been for three decades.
Cadillac, Andretti Global, and Dan Towriss are betting on more than one driver. They’re building American infrastructure in Europe. A talent pipeline where promising young Americans can sign with Andretti, develop their skills in the European feeder series, and land competitive seats.
Success means multiple American drivers in F3 and F2 with top teams. Drivers competing for championships, not just wins. Eventually, multiple Americans in F1 vying for seats at top teams.
But it all hinges on Herta proving the concept works.
What’s Really At Stake
American drivers will always need to go through the FIA’s system. They write the rules.
But a steady supply of talent from the world’s largest economy creates a compelling commercial case. F1 is exploding in the US with three races and massive viewership growth. Having competitive American drivers would amplify that momentum.
The real question isn’t whether Herta makes it to F1. It’s whether his path becomes a trickle or a flood.
For now, I’m watching a multiple IndyCar race winner step backwards to move forward. It’s frustrating. It reveals how the system really works.
But if Cadillac and Andretti succeed in building that pipeline, Herta won’t be the last American taking this route. He’ll be the first of many.
That’s what makes him more than just another F2 driver. He’s proof that the path exists, even if you have to go backwards to find it.
