The IndyCar driver is eyed for a seat at AlphaTauri next season, which would be part of a deal that would see Gasly loaned to Alpine.
His chances of making it to Formula 1 depend on him getting the super license , as Red Bull has applied to the FIA for special permission because it currently has only 32 of the 40 points required.
Despite pressure from Red Bull, everything indicates that the FIA will refuse to grant an exception and give Herta a super license due to the unintended consequences that this could have in the future.
The biggest fear is that it could make drivers no longer want to focus on the FIA single-seater categories, Formula 3 and Formula 2, if there is a chance to get to F1 without going through there.
Although the situation does not look positive for Colton Herta, that has not stopped Red Bull from going ahead with its preparations.
Motorsport.com sources have revealed that, with the IndyCar season now over, a private Herta test is being scheduled with a car from another year from Alpine.
That test forms part of driver development that had originally been set up for Oscar Piastri , but from which the Australian has dropped out following his decision to join McLaren for 2023. Piastri had been racking up mileage in an Alpine A521 since last year.
Although the final plan for the Herta test has not been finalized, Alpine hopes to include the driver in the test that will take place at the Hungaroring before the Singapore GP.
Oscar Piastri, Alpine A521
There is also the possibility that Nyck de Vries will also join that test as a candidate to be Esteban Ocon’s partner next year.
However, regarding Herta, despite the fact that Alpine will put him on the track, they do not have him on their list of possible substitutes for Fernando Alonso for 2023.
Rather, that test is part of an evaluation process that Alpine has offered to AlphaTauri to better gauge the speed and technical response of the American.
Although it may seem rather strange for F1 teams to help each other in such a way, Alpine’s interest in Herta’s future is evident as it hopes to snap up Pierre Gasly.
Alpine has not confirmed who will take part in the Hungaroring test. A team spokesman said: “We do not comment on private testing.”
Apart from the Alpine test, Herta is still hoping to do an FP1 with McLaren F1 this year, but nothing is confirmed yet.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown commented on that possibility: “I wouldn’t rule Colton out, but anything we do is going to be in the best interest of McLaren rather than to help AlphaTauri.”
There is also the possibility that McLaren may opt to give Oscar Piastri an FP1, if the youngster is released from his Alpine contract.
Brown added: “We’re not totally clear yet because Oscar is still under contract for 2022.”
“We’re still developing the car, so it’s unlikely we’ll want to go up to a rookie when we’re still putting parts into the current car.”
“We are already in the second half of the year, there are only six races left. But it is not decided if we will field one driver or two. I think we will know in a couple of weeks.”
