Colton Herta’s Father Shares an Emotional Message After His Controversial Decision to Leave IndyCar for Cadillac F1 in the US Open Wheel Championship

In the high-stakes world of American open-wheel racing, few decisions carry the weight of Colton Herta’s recent announcement to depart the NTT IndyCar Series for a test driver role with the incoming Cadillac Formula 1 Team. The 25-year-old Californian, a nine-time race winner and the youngest victor in IndyCar history, has long been a cornerstone of the series, amassing 16 pole positions, 40 top-five finishes, and a runner-up championship finish in 2024. His move, revealed on September 3, 2025, marks the end of a seven-year tenure with Andretti Global and thrusts him into the global spotlight of Formula 1, albeit in a reserve capacity as the team gears up for its 2026 debut. Yet, what has captured the hearts of fans and stirred debate within the paddock is not just the switch itself, but the poignant response from Colton’s father, Bryan Herta—a former IndyCar and Champ Car champion who knows the sport’s unforgiving demands all too well.

Bryan Herta, who clinched the 1998 IndyCar Indy Lights title and notched multiple victories in the CART series during the 1990s, took to social media shortly after the news broke, delivering a message that blended raw emotion with unyielding pride. “Watching you chase this dream breaks my heart a little, but fills it up even more,” Bryan wrote in a heartfelt post on X, formerly Twitter, accompanied by a throwback photo of a young Colton in a go-kart helmet, grinning ear-to-ear beside his dad. “From those dusty tracks in SoCal to the roar of Indy, you’ve given everything to this sport. Leaving IndyCar isn’t goodbye to the family you’ve built there—it’s hello to the bigger stage you’ve earned. I’m scared for the risks ahead, thrilled for the wins I know you’ll grab. Love you, kid. Go make America proud in F1.” The post, which garnered over 50,000 likes and thousands of shares within hours, resonated deeply with a community divided over Colton’s bold leap.

The controversy surrounding Herta’s departure stems from the FIA’s rigid Super Licence system, which has long penalized IndyCar drivers by awarding minimal points—far less than Formula 2 or Formula 3—for championship finishes. Despite his stellar record, including a seventh-place finish in the 2025 standings with five top-fives across 17 races, Herta entered the season with just 35 of the required 40 points for an F1 race seat. His final IndyCar outing at Nashville in August yielded a solid but insufficient haul, leaving him short by five points. Critics within the U.S. open-wheel scene argue that the move undermines IndyCar’s prestige, with some team owners and veterans decrying it as a betrayal of the series that nurtured him. “Colton’s talent is undeniable, but dropping everything for a test role? That’s a gamble that could leave our sport shortchanged,” remarked one anonymous IndyCar insider in a post-race interview. Social media erupted with hashtags like #SaveIndyCarTalent, as fans lamented the brain drain to Europe’s premier series.

Herta himself has acknowledged the emotional toll, describing the decision as “gut-wrenching” during a candid appearance on the Off Track podcast just days after the announcement. “The easy thing would be to stay in IndyCar—that would be simple for me,” he admitted, his voice cracking slightly as he reflected on his 116 starts and the tight-knit Andretti family. “But my dream has always been Formula 1. This is a huge step toward that goal, even if it means starting over in Formula 2 next year to chase those extra points.” Indeed, Cadillac confirmed that Herta will compete full-time in the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2026, a calculated risk backed by the team’s ownership group, TWG Motorsports—which also controls Andretti. This familial tie softens the blow somewhat, ensuring Herta’s No. 26 branding and sponsors like Gainbridge transition smoothly. Cadillac’s CEO, Dan Towriss, who doubles as Andretti’s leader, praised the driver’s resolve: “He’s taking a big risk. Tyres, setups—everything’s different from IndyCar. But I couldn’t be more proud of his willingness to be uncomfortable and prove he belongs.”

Bryan Herta’s message cuts through the noise, humanizing a saga that’s as much about legacy as logistics. As a second-generation racer, Colton grew up in the shadow of his father’s triumphs, including Bryan’s 1994 victory at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The elder Herta, now 53 and semi-retired into team ownership with Herta Motorsports in IMSA, has been both mentor and sounding board. In his post, he alluded to late-night strategy sessions and the tears shed after Colton’s breakthrough 2019 win at Circuit of the Americas, where the then-18-year-old shattered records. “I’ve seen you fight through disqualifications, crashes, and that heartbreaking super licence math,” Bryan continued. “This isn’t just your path—it’s ours. Whatever happens, you’ve already won by daring to dream bigger.”

The paddock’s reaction has been a mix of support and skepticism. IndyCar’s official account bid a fond farewell, tweeting: “What a ride it’s been. 116 starts, 9 wins… We’ll be cheering you on in this next chapter.” Will Power, the four-time series champion set to slide into Herta’s Andretti seat after his Penske release, offered a terse but respectful nod: “Kid’s got speed—hope F1 sees it soon.” On the F1 side, excitement brews around Herta’s prior testing mileage, including a 2022 shakedown in a McLaren that impressed Zak Brown. With Cadillac pairing veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for their grid entry—backed by Graeme Lowdon as team principal—Herta’s role will involve simulator work, practice sessions, and potentially FP1 outings to accrue points.

As October 2025 unfolds, with the US Open Wheel Championship wrapping its season amid whispers of regulatory tweaks to boost FIA points allocation, Herta’s story symbolizes the evolving landscape of motorsport. Bryan’s emotional dispatch reminds us that behind every controversial call lies a father’s fierce love and a son’s relentless drive. Whether Formula 2 catapults Colton to an F1 cockpit or tempers his ambitions, one thing is clear: the Herta name will echo across circuits worldwide, a testament to chasing the improbable with heart wide open. In a sport defined by split-second decisions, this one—raw, risky, and deeply personal—might just redefine American racing’s future.