Colton Herta

Colton Herta Bio

Colton Thomas Herta, born on March 30, 2000, in Santa Clarita, California, is an American racing driver widely recognized as the youngest driver ever to win an IndyCar Series race. He competed in the IndyCar Series from 2018 to 2025 with Andretti Autosport and is now pursuing a career in international open-wheel racing with Hitech Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. In parallel, he serves as a test and development driver for the Cadillac Formula One Team.

Herta comes from a strong racing family, with his father, Bryan Herta, being a former IndyCar and Champ Car driver. Over the course of his career, Herta has built a reputation as a fast, aggressive driver on road and street circuits, becoming one of the most talked-about American talents in international motorsport.

Early Life and Background

Colton Thomas Herta was born and raised in Santa Clarita, California, a region known for its proximity to Southern California’s motorsport culture. From a young age, he was exposed to racing through his father, Bryan Herta, who had competed at the highest levels of American open-wheel racing in both the IndyCar Series and the Champ Car World Series. This family connection gave Colton early insight into the demands and discipline required at the top levels of the sport.

Herta first climbed into a kart at the age of six and began competitive karting in 2010 in the SKUSA and IKF series at the age of ten. He made his single-seater racing debut at thirteen, finishing second in the SBF2000 Winter Series. His rapid progress through junior categories quickly marked him as a standout young American prospect.

Path to NASCAR

Colton Herta’s professional career has been built almost entirely in open-wheel and sportscar racing rather than stock car competition. After karting, he advanced into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in 2014, then moved to the United Kingdom to race in the MSA Formula series in 2015, where he became the youngest driver on the grid and won at Snetterton Circuit. In 2016, he competed in the Euroformula Open Championship with Carlin and made select appearances in BRDC British Formula 3.

By 2017, Herta had returned to the United States to join the Indy Lights Series with Steinbrenner Racing, capturing Rookie of the Year honors and finishing third in points. In 2018, he dominated Indianapolis Motor Speedway events in Indy Lights before signing with Harding Racing for his IndyCar debut at Sonoma. This ladder of junior open-wheel series shaped him into the driver he became when he stepped up to the IndyCar Series full-time in 2019.

Colton Herta Career

Early Career (2013-2018)

Herta’s earliest championship-level success came in 2013, when he won the Pacific Formula F1600 title. After his U.S. F2000 campaign in 2014 and a season in MSA Formula in 2015, he joined Carlin for the 2016 Euroformula Open Championship, finishing third overall with four wins, six podiums, and five pole positions. He also added a victory at Brands Hatch in a partial BRDC British F3 campaign.

In 2017, Herta joined the Indy Lights Series with Steinbrenner Racing and immediately impressed with two wins, including the Sunday race at St. Petersburg. In 2018, he added four more Indy Lights wins, sweeping both races of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His strong form in Indy Lights earned him an IndyCar debut with Harding Racing at the 2018 Grand Prix of Sonoma.

IndyCar Breakthrough (2019-2020)

For the 2019 IndyCar season, Herta signed with Harding Steinbrenner Racing to drive the No. 88 car. On March 24, 2019, at the age of eighteen, he became the youngest-ever winner in IndyCar history by taking the checkered flag at the IndyCar Classic at Circuit of the Americas. Later that season, he also became the youngest pole-sitter at Road America and added a win at Laguna Seca, finishing seventh in the championship and narrowly missing Rookie of the Year.

In 2020, Herta returned with the No. 88 entry and won the second race of the Mid-Ohio doubleheader. He produced seven top-five finishes across the shortened season, ranking third in points and cementing his status as one of IndyCar’s rising stars.

Andretti Autosport Era (2021-2024)

Beginning in 2021, Herta moved to the No. 26 Andretti Autosport with Curb Agajanian entry and produced three wins that year, including a dominant performance at Laguna Seca and a come-from-behind victory at Long Beach. Despite occasional setbacks, he finished fifth in the championship standings.

In 2022 and 2023, Herta continued to deliver strong qualifying performances and poles, although consistent race wins proved harder to come by. He picked up his first victory of 2022 at the GMR Grand Prix and was a constant threat on road and street courses. In 2024, Herta enjoyed his most complete season, finishing second in the championship behind Alex Palou after winning the Toronto race on the road course and the season-ending oval race at the Nashville Superspeedway. Across his full-time IndyCar career, Herta amassed nine wins, twenty podiums, and sixteen pole positions.

Driving Style and Strengths

Herta is widely regarded as one of the fastest qualifiers in the paddock, with an aggressive but calculated race craft. His strengths have typically been on road and street circuits, where his confidence in braking zones and tire management have produced a steady stream of pole positions. His partnership with his Andretti engineering group allowed him to translate qualifying speed into consistent race results, particularly in 2021 and 2024.

Notable Races and Milestones

Among Herta’s signature moments are his historic 2019 victory at Circuit of the Americas, his sweep of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indy Lights events in 2018, his 2024 breakthrough at Toronto, and his first oval win at the Nashville Superspeedway. His GT class win at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, his overall victory at the 2024 12 Hours of Sebring in an Acura for Wayne Taylor Racing, and his IndyCar runner-up finish in 2024 also stand out as defining achievements.

Colton Herta Career Wins

Across his career in major professional series, Colton Herta has accumulated a verified total of nine IndyCar Series wins, two IMSA SportsCar Championship wins including an overall victory, and multiple victories in junior open-wheel categories such as Indy Lights, Euroformula Open, and MSA Formula.

IndyCar Series Highlights

Herta’s nine IndyCar wins span from the 2019 IndyCar Classic at Circuit of the Americas to the 2024 Music City Grand Prix in Nashville. He added signature victories at Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, St. Petersburg, Long Beach, the GMR Grand Prix, Toronto, and the Nashville Superspeedway oval. His 2024 runner-up championship finish to Alex Palou was the highest of his career.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond IndyCar, Herta claimed the 2013 Pacific Formula F1600 title and recorded victories in Indy Lights, MSA Formula, Euroformula Open, and BRDC British Formula 3. He won the GTLM class at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona and added an overall win at the 2024 12 Hours of Sebring. He has also competed part-time in IMSA with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing alongside his Formula 2 and Cadillac Formula One test duties.

Colton Herta Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Colton Herta is the son of Bryan Herta, a former IndyCar and Champ Car driver who also co-owned the Andretti Autosport entries that Colton drove during his IndyCar career. Growing up around his father’s racing operation gave Colton direct exposure to professional motorsport from childhood and shaped his path through karting and junior formula racing.

Personal Life

Outside of racing, Colton Herta plays the drums in the indie punk rock band The Zibs, which he co-founded in 2018 with high school friends Jon Graber and Chris Broadbent. He is also active on social media, sharing updates about his racing and music through his official accounts.

2025 Season Performance

Colton Herta’s 2025 campaign was his final season in the IndyCar Series, where he continued as a lead driver for Andretti Autosport. His campaign included a mixture of strong qualifying performances and challenging race-day results, with the transition to international single-seater racing already looming on the horizon.

Following the conclusion of the IndyCar season, Herta officially left Andretti Autosport to take on his new role with the Cadillac Formula One Team as a test and development driver while simultaneously preparing for a full campaign in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Hitech Grand Prix. The plan is designed to help him accumulate the super license points needed to race in Formula One in the future, beginning with his FP1 debut with Cadillac at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Heading into 2026, Herta’s outlook centers on balancing Formula 2 commitments with Cadillac Formula One testing duties. His combination of open-wheel pedigree, sportscar experience, and family-backed racing knowledge positions him as a leading American candidate for a future Formula One race seat with the Cadillac program.