IndyCar: Rumors have emerged that Herta may move to F2.

      Against the backdrop of expectations that Cadillac F1 may confirm as early as next week that our old acquaintances Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will race for the new team in its debut season, amusing rumors about Colton Herta — who until recently was also considered one of the candidates — have come from across the ocean.

      The American driver for Andretti Global has not had much success this year: he has no wins and only one podium. With two rounds remaining in the IndyCar season he sits only eighth in the drivers' standings, so he cannot count on a super licence.

      But Colton is considered talented enough to try his hand at Formula 1, and in that context people in the IndyCar paddock have been saying that the 25-year-old driver might make an unexpected move and switch to Formula 2 next season. Allegedly Andretti Global could take such a step solely to allow Herta to succeed in that junior series and earn a super licence.

      "I've heard that too. All I can say right now is that it's rumors," Colton said yesterday in an interview with IndyStar when asked to comment.

      However, journalists at the Indianapolis-based paper immediately noted that he did not categorically deny anything — i.e., he did not say that it was all untrue.

      To score enough points for an FIA super licence, without which the path to Formula 1 is closed, a driver would have had to finish at least fourth in the American series. But if Colton does decide to try his hand in F2, finishing the season seventh there would be enough for him, and he would then earn the missing eight points.

      That said, it's a big question whether he wants all that hassle. According to IndyStar, Herta has a long-term contract with Andretti Global, and by racing in his habitual IndyCar series he earns between $5 and $10 million annually.