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New faces hoping to make an impact: Hitech Season Preview
Hitech came close to taking their first ever FIA Formula 2 Teams’ Title in 2025, finishing second in the Standings, just 38 points behind Champions Invicta Racing.
Now armed with an all-new driver lineup – in Colton Herta and Ritomo Miyata – they are looking to go one better in 2026.
ADDING MORE WINS
Arguably no team has been as consistent as Hitech since the introduction of the new F2 car when it comes to Qualifying and scoring points.
Where they have struggled is converting their pace into victories, although they have found themselves consistently on the podium.
In 2024, Paul Aron led their charge, and while he achieved four Pole Positions – two more than any other driver that year – he and Hitech won one race.
The same happened in 2025, as between Luke Browning and Dino Beganovic, they achieved two wins. This meant Hitech had four less victories than Campos, while Invicta had three more.
But the positive is that in 2024, Aron was tied at the top with eight podiums. Last year, Browning and Champion Leonardo Fornaroli had the most trips to the rostrum, with nine, while Beganovic added four of his own.
So they are making it on to the podium, however, Hitech will be hoping that they can make standing on the top step a much more regular occurrence in 2026. Charged with doing this are Herta and Miyata.
FRESH FACES IN NEW PLACES
While Herta is 25 years old, this will be his rookie year. The American driver is a seasoned campaigner, having competed in seven full IndyCar seasons.
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During that time, he made himself a household name, achieving nine victories, 19 podiums in total and also 16 Pole Positions.
But the move to F2 will be a challenge for Herta, who is having to learn a new environment, new tracks, new tyres and much more.
Herta got his first taste of this in Abu Dhabi, when he shadowed the team on the race weekend, looking on and listening in to meetings, before jumping into the car at post-season testing.
During those three days, he learned all the new systems and protocols, such as practice starts and pitstops, while also working on managing the tyres and brakes.
Herta will have taken a lot from those three days, especially on his long run pace, which was a huge focus ahead of the season getting underway.
The big challenge for him is how quickly he adapts, especially in the early rounds in Melbourne, Sakhir and Jeddah, tracks that he has not visited. If he can get up to speed quickly, he could be a force to be reckoned with this year.
As could his teammate Miyata, who is returning for his third season in FIA Formula 2, and this will be the Japanese driver’s first year as the more experienced teammate.
At post-season testing, Miyata spoke of his need to find more consistency, especially in Qualifying, as he has already shown he can fight at the front, as he did in Spa, where he finished second.
Miyata and Hitech will want that to be a consistent result this year, and he will also have his eye on a maiden Formula 2 victory.
The 26-year-old will want to use his wealth of experience in the Championship, with the aim of being a consistent front runner this year.
If he does, Miyata has previous title winning success – in the 2020 Super Formula Lights and 2023 Super GT and Formula Championships. Hitech will hope he can use that experience in 2026.