According to the latest information, once the situation has been reviewed, the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem , seems to be willing to stick to the rules established by the International Sporting Code, which does not stipulate any way to grant the super license to Colton Herta without claiming a force majeure cause.
It is understood that Ben Sulayem is interested in making it clear that the FIA will follow the regulations of the series to the letter and at the same time that they do not allow pressure in any direction.
An FIA spokesman told Motorsport.com: “The FIA will not be pressured by any team to make decisions on matters such as superlicence points. The FIA President has put robust governance in place, and we will stick to she”.
The issue of superlicence for IndyCar driver Herta has become a much talked about and contentious issue in the paddock, with several team bosses insisting that the FIA should not claim force majeure to circumvent its own rules and thus help get the American driver on the grid with AlphaTauri in 2023.
Mercedes’ Toto Wolff , Alfa Romeo’s Fred Vasseur , Aston Martin Racing’s Mike Krack , and Haas’ Gunther Steiner have all argued in favor of Herta not receiving the superlicense for not having reached the required 40-point total.
At Monza on Saturday, Ferrari director Mattia Binotto also supported that idea, while suggesting that his team keep a close eye on the situation.
“The truth is that we are going to see what the FIA does in that regard. I think every team will do it, because it is about the importance of our sport.
“We cannot have causes of force majeure that are not actually a cause of force majeure.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also made it clear that the points system must be respected.
The issue of Herta ‘s super license is one of the first controversies related to the top flight since Ben Sulayem took over as FIA boss in December, and by sticking to the rules he seems to be setting a clear path.
“I think the most important thing for me is to have strong governance,” Wolff said of Ben Sulayem’s first few months in office. “There are rules that are written and there is a governance framework that must be respected.”
“And I think he defends it. It’s not always comfortable. But the most important thing is transparency, integrity and compliance with the rules, nothing more, and so far that’s what he’s shown.”
Red Bull Racing has made it clear that if Herta does not get the super license, it will not release Pierre Gasly to sign for Alpine, leaving the Enstone team without what until a few weeks ago seemed to be their first option.
