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Herta's F2 Practice Debut in Melbourne Cut Short by Red Flag Crash
Colton Herta's inaugural Formula 2 session for Hitech in Melbourne was prematurely concluded for him after a significant crash necessitated a red flag.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-03-05T23:45:49.000Z - 2 min read
Colton Herta's highly anticipated first Formula 2 practice session in Melbourne came to an abrupt and dramatic halt today, as the American driver crashed his Hitech machine, triggering an immediate red flag across the Albert Park circuit. This incident unfolded with over twenty-five minutes still remaining in the opening F2 session of the 2026 season, marking a challenging start for the debutant.
The sequence of events saw Herta's car reportedly losing its rear control while exiting the demanding Turn 10. Initial observations from the track suggest that the loss of traction became apparent early to mid-corner, initiating an uncontrolled slide for the Hitech entry.
The car's momentum carried it inexorably towards the inside of the circuit, where it made contact with the protective barriers. The force of the impact resulted in scattered components and debris spread across the racing line, creating an immediate hazard for any other cars on track.
Due to the widespread debris and the compromised state of the circuit, race control had little alternative but to deploy the red flag. This brought all competitive running to a complete standstill, freezing the clock on a session that had still offered significant track time for teams to gather data and for drivers to familiarise themselves with the newly-starting season.
Crucially, despite the visible damage to his car, Herta was seen to exit the cockpit of his Hitech F2 machine unassisted. He appeared physically unharmed following the significant impact, a primary concern in any such incident.
For the Hitech team, this early incident will necessitate a thorough assessment of the damage sustained, potentially impacting their preparations for the upcoming competitive sessions of the Australian Grand Prix weekend. This crash undoubtedly casts a shadow over Herta's first official F2 outing.
As a developing breaking story, further details regarding the full extent of the car's damage and the precise cause of the incident are still awaited. The focus now shifts to the team's ability to ready the car for the next scheduled track activity, as the 2026 F2 season continues its opening weekend.