Red Bull seeks FIA clarification on Herta before Italian Grand Prix

Colton Herta's name has been floating around AlphaTauri for some time and in the Netherlands Helmut Marko confirmed the rumours. It just remains to be seen what the FIA will do.

With the empty seat at Alpine, some shifts can be expected in Silly Season. Alpine is reportedly interested in Pierre Gasly in order to present an all-French line-up for 2023 with Gasly and Esteban Ocon. Gasly, however, is still tied to Red Bull and they will not let him go without a fight.

Marko confirmed earlier that there is a verbal agreement with Herta. The American IndyCar driver from Andretti is keen to make the move to F1 and has previously been linked with a possible Andretti team in F1. That hasn't happened yet and so Herta seems to be on his way to AlphaTauri.

There is one problem though: Herta does not have a super license. Despite a third and second place in the Indy Lights championship, a third place in the IndyCar championship and seven IndyCar wins, Herta only has 32 of the 40 points needed for a licence. This is because the FIA does not count IndyCar as heavily as F1.

According to Marko an exception should be made for Herta as the American has shown with seven wins in the IndyCar that he really can race. The question is whether the FIA will go along with this. Marko tells SpeedCity Broadcasting that the FIA needs to clarify the situation before the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

Red Bull has made it clear that Gasly will not be allowed to leave AlphaTauri if Herta is not granted a super license. Red Bull will not have a suitable replacement for the Frenchman. Alpine will also have to wait patiently as there is no real alternative ready for the French team.