‘Back to school’ – Cadillac test driver Colton Herta explains F2 preparations following IndyCar switch

Colton Herta detailed how he is going “back to school” in order to prepare for his maiden Formula 2 campaign next season.

In a bid to secure the super licence points required to compete in Formula 1, Herta decided to leave his successful IndyCar career and head into the championship’s primary feeder category.

The challenge ahead is no small feat, something that has been demonstrated recently by Ritomo Miyata, who moved across from Japan as the reigning Super Formula and Super GT champion, but has managed just one podium in close to two complete seasons in F2.

Asked by F1 TV presenter – and former IndyCar star – James Hinchcliffe in Las Vegas how his preparations for this new venture were different to what would have been in place had he remained in the United States, Herta said: “It’s back to school, it’s back to learning a lot of basics. How you drive each formula car, even though they look the same, they’re quite different, and the Formula 2 car is very different.

“It’s back to basics, try to learn how I need to brake, how I need to get off the brake and back to throttle, managing the Pirelli tyre, which are very different to our Firestones in IndyCar. So there’s a lot of new stuff, but I’m excited for it.”

He added: “There’s a lot of stuff that’s going to be new for me next year, but there’s a lot of stuff that I remember from my F3 days and my F4 days. It’s going to be exciting. It’s a big programme.”

Herta will get his first taste of an F2 car with Hitech in Abu Dhabi, where he will complete the three-day post-season test between December 10-12.

While also serving as new F1 entry Cadillac’s test driver, the American will complement his F2 campaign with three rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, where he will drive for the manufacturer in the Daytona 24, Petite Le Mans, and the Sebring 12 Hour.

“It’s a lot,” Herta said. “For me, it’ll be the three US endurance rounds; so it will be the Daytona 24, and then it’ll be Petit Le Mans and Sebring 12 Hours, so it’s really exciting.

“The car is just such a cool car. To have that naturally aspirated V10 behind you, it’s something that I’ve never had in my career, it’s always been turbocharged engines. So it’s a different feel and a great sound.”