Colton Herta has received interest from Red Bull Racing to take a seat at AlphaTauri next season should Pierre Gasly sign for Alpine, but the American driver does not have the points needed to obtain an FIA superlicence.
The governing body has made it clear that it will not change its rules to make an exception for Herta, prompting Red Bull to give up its first target and focus on Nyck de Vries after his breakthrough debut for Williams at Monza. so Herta’s hopes of reaching F1 in 2023 appear to be over for now.
Alexander Rossi remains the last American driver to feature on the F1 grid in the 2015 season, and has also been Herta ‘s teammate at the Andretti Autosport IndyCar team for the last three seasons.
The winner of the 2016 Indianapolis 500, who will join the Arrow McLaren SP team starting next season, wrote on his social media that Herta “has the talent and ability to be in F1”.
Although he supports the premise of the super license system, as it prevents money from being the main motive for hiring drivers, Rossi said it is shameful that it is strictly necessary, stating that “the decisions of the past, either out of greed or necessity” have created an unnecessary obstacle.
The American echoed comments made by his future team boss Zak Brown , who this year put Herta behind the wheel of a 2021 McLaren F1, and argued that “the superlicence system needs to be reviewed”.
Rossi wrote that he was “fed up with the back and forth” about the superlicense system: “The whole premise was to stop people buying a seat in F1 and to allow talent to be the key factor, it’s great.”
“We all agree that Colton has the talent and ability to be in F1. That’s great and I think he should get that opportunity. Period.”
“Motorsport remains a sport where money can outweigh talent.”
“What is obviously disappointing and, in my opinion, the problem is that the sporting aspect has often taken a backseat to the commercial aspect, so there had to be a method for certain teams to stop hiring drivers. solely on the basis of their financial backing”.
“Ultimately, these past decisions, whether out of greed or necessity, are what cost Colton his chance to race in F1. Not his license points.”
