Hitech ready to launch 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign in Melbourne
Round 1 - Melbourne - Preview
The 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship gets underway this weekend at Albert Park, with Hitech arriving in Melbourne ready to build on a productive winter and strong pre-season preparation.
Following three valuable days of testing in Barcelona, the team heads to Round 1 with clear direction, confidence in its package, and an exciting driver line-up featuring Ritomo Miyata in car #3 and Colton Herta in car #4.
Ritomo Miyata: experience, consistency, and a fresh opportunity
Ritomo Miyata begins his third FIA Formula 2 season with renewed focus and a clear objective – to put everything together across a full campaign.
After joining Hitech for 2026, the Japanese driver has emphasised the importance of consistency across qualifying and both race formats – a crucial ingredient for championship success in such a competitive field.
Ritomo Miyata:
“I’m really excited about what this season can bring. Hitech showed last year that they have the capability to fight at the front, and for me that’s a great environment to step into. There’s a lot I can learn from the team, and at the same time I feel ready to contribute with the experience I’ve built over the past two seasons.”
“Going into my third year in Formula 2, I know what’s required. Consistency across qualifying and both races is critical in this championship. Now it’s about combining everything – experience, pace, execution – and delivering it over the full season.”
Colton Herta: a new chapter begins
Alongside Ritomo, Colton Herta makes his FIA Formula 2 debut this weekend as he transitions from IndyCar competition to the ‘Road to F1’.
Barcelona marked an important learning phase for the American Cadillac Formula 1® Team Test Driver, who focused on understanding the characteristics of the F2 car, tyre management, race procedures and team dynamics.
Colton Herta:
“It’s definitely a new challenge for me. The cars, the tyres, and the race format are all quite different to what I’ve been used to, but that’s part of what makes it exciting. The Barcelona test was really focused on understanding the fundamentals and building a good rhythm with the team.”
“Now it’s about taking what we’ve learned there and applying it straight away in Melbourne. I feel like we made good progress over the three days, and I’m looking forward to putting that into practice from the first session.”
Albert Park: a technical and evolving season opener
Albert Park provides a distinctive challenge as the curtain-raiser for the championship. The 5.278km semi-permanent circuit winds through Melbourne’s lakeside parkland, blending high-speed sections with heavy braking zones and narrow margins for error.
Grip levels tend to improve significantly across the weekend as rubber builds on the surface, placing emphasis on adaptability in both driving approach and set-up evolution. Maximising qualifying performance will be key, particularly with track position playing a major role across both the Sprint and Feature Races.
The fast direction changes through Turns 9 and 10 demand confidence and aerodynamic stability, while overtaking opportunities are most prominent into Turns 1 and 3 under heavy braking. Tyre management – especially across longer Feature Race stints – is expected to be a decisive factor.
Team Perspective
Lights out in Melbourne marks the beginning of a long and fiercely competitive campaign – and the team is ready.
Jan Sumann, Hitech’s F2 Head of Race Engineering:
“Melbourne is always a fascinating way to start the season. It’s a circuit that rewards precision and confidence, and because it evolves so much across the weekend, preparation and adaptability are crucial in equal measure.”
“Barcelona gave us valuable data and a strong foundation to build on – and we’ve been doing just that in the intervening weeks. Ritomo’s experience in the championship and Colton’s rate of learning have both been very encouraging. The focus now is on executing cleanly – maximising Qualifying, managing the tyres well, and putting ourselves in a strong position to score points from the outset.”
