Colton Herta showed remarkable car control during a high-speed incident in Formula 2 qualifying at the Baku City Circuit earlier this week. The Cadillac F1 test driver’s car lost grip as it entered Turn 15, a corner where racers typically reach speeds between 155 mph and 161 mph. The loss of traction caused the rear of the vehicle to slide outward. Rather than fighting the spin and risking a hard impact with the wall, he allowed the car to complete a full 360-degree rotation, which kept the car largely undamaged and let the session continue without interruption.
The maneuver demanded exact timing. He applied the brakes at roughly 50 mph to 60 mph while the car was at the apex of the turn, then let the momentum carry the chassis around. If he had tried to correct the slide before the rotation finished, the front end likely would have struck the barrier. Although the tires were shredded and had to be swapped out, the chassis and suspension survived the episode without major harm.
In a recent interview, Herta said he is “not interested in another year in Formula 2”. Nevertheless, he is currently short of the two points required to satisfy F1’s minimum eligibility threshold. If he wishes to stay aligned with Cadillac’s plans for a top-tier drive, he may have to extend his participation in the series for another season. The intensity of the Baku circuit suggests that even one additional year would test his abilities considerably.
