Will Buxton worried about Colton Herta's "really risky" F2 move with one major problem

Former Andretti Global driver Colton Herta made the move from IndyCar to F2 for the 2026 season and will also be fulfilling the Cadillac F1 reserve driver duties. IndyCar play-by-play announcer Will Buxton came out and detailed the American driver's risky F2 move, revealing the biggest hurdle for Herta in the Formula ladder series.

Colton Herta challenged Alex Palou for the IndyCar title in 2024 and established himself as one of the top drivers. The former Andretti Global driver was also the highest-paid driver on the grid, but he left it all and made the move to Cadillac as a final shot at the F1 dream.

Soon after the 2025 season ended, Herta announced his exit from Andretti, joined Cadillac F1, and also revealed that he will be racing full-time in F2 in 2026 in a bid to get the superlicence, as well as learn the tracks & the functioning of the FIA-sanctioned Formula series.

Colton Herta was considered as one of the full-time drivers for Cadillac's F1 team, but the American couldn't get enough superlicence points. Will Buxton featured on the DIVEBOMB IndyCar podcast and detailed how risky Herta's move to F2 is, suggesting how the Pirelli tires could be a major problem for the Cadillac F1 reserve.

“It's risky, man. It's really risky. He doesn't know the tracks, doesn't know the car. Tires are the big thing. Everyone he's racing against will either have already raced in F2 and know the circuits and the tires. They would have raced in F3 and they'll know the tires.” (57:10 onwards)

“Those Pirellis are tricky. And I'm not convinced that Colton, out of everybody that I've seen in IndyCar, as I wouldn't say he was the number one driver that I would put down. If you said who's got the best tire feel in IndyCar, I wouldn't have put Colton at the top of the list,” added Buxton

The F1 teams and drivers have been running with Pirelli for well over a decade, yet there are still weekends when the behaviour of the tires is unpredictable, and the drivers end up complaining about the grip from the tires. The Pirellis are sensitive to temperature changes, and the operating window of the same is also very narrow.

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Pato O'Ward hopeful of seeing Colton Herta in an F1 seat for 2027

Colton Herta's former IndyCar rival, Pato O'Ward, came out and spoke with Racer about the Cadillac F1 reserve driver's future in the pinnacle of motorsports. The Arrow McLaren driver, who drove the MCL39 at the Mexico City GP, suggested that he expects Herta to be on the F1 grid for 2027.

“I think I'd be shocked to not see him in an F1 [seat] in 2027. I don't think he'd be doing this switch if that wasn't on the table for him. I'm super excited for him, and I really want him to do well, because he's going to be our IndyCar representation,” said O'Ward

“I think he doesn't just have himself on board. I think he's definitely got a lot of guys that are pushing for him to do well outside of just being in F2 next year. We want him to make it to F1, and we want him to do well,” he added

Colton Herta’s team for F2 next year was confirmed a few weeks ago as Hitech GP made the announcement.