Colton Herta’s crash during early Formula 2 running quickly spread across social media, but the moment also illustrated how demanding the transition from IndyCar to the European junior ladder can be.
Video of the incident showed the American driver losing control and hitting the barriers during the practice session, with the clip circulating widely after it was shared online.
The footage posted during the session captured one of Herta’s first visible moments adapting to a completely different type of single seater environment.
Herta’s Formula 2 move is part of his route toward Formula 1
Herta’s decision to race in the 2026 Formula 2 season with Hitech represents a clear step toward reaching Formula 1.
The campaign is designed to allow the American driver to pursue the FIA Super Licence points required for Formula 1, which are awarded through results in recognised international championships.
The move has long been discussed as one of the most realistic routes available to Herta if he wants to progress onto the Formula 1 grid.
Formula 2 runs alongside the Formula 1 calendar and forms the final stage of the FIA’s single seater development ladder.
An experienced IndyCar driver arrives as an F2 rookie
Despite his racing background, Herta will still enter the championship as a rookie driver in Formula 2.
The American spent seven seasons racing in IndyCar, building a reputation as one of the series’ fastest drivers while collecting race victories and podium finishes.
That experience gives him a strong racing foundation, but the Formula 2 environment differs significantly from the championship where he built his career.
The cars, tyres, circuits and race formats all operate differently from IndyCar, which means experienced drivers still face a learning phase when switching categories.
The crash illustrated the early adaptation phase
The clip of Herta’s incident showed the car sliding into the barriers during the practice session, with the moment shared widely across the platform.
The footage was circulated through posts such as this clip of the crash during the session, which quickly drew attention among fans and observers following the series.
Despite a heavy crash, the Cadillac test driver climbed out of his Hitech car and is reportedly okay.
Formula 1 journalist Chris Medland shared images of the crash on X, saying: “Not a great start for Colton Herta in his F2 debut. He’ll be up against it later today in qualifying”.
Herta has already acknowledged the learning curve
The driver has openly discussed the scale of the challenge as he prepares for a full season in the European racing environment.
He previously described the opportunity as his last shot at reaching Formula 1, which places added importance on the results he can achieve in the championship.
Preparing for Formula 2 involves adapting to unfamiliar circuits and a different style of single seater racing compared with the American series where he has competed for years.
That adjustment period is expected to form a significant part of his early races while he learns the characteristics of the car and tyres.
The early crash therefore offers a visible example of the adaptation required when experienced drivers switch between racing systems.
The 2026 season will ultimately show how quickly Herta can convert his racing background into competitive results within the European ladder.
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