Red Bull have reportedly abandoned their attempts to get Colton Herta onto the Formula 1 grid in 2023 with junior team AlphaTauri. RacingNews365.com understands the potential move has been called off after it became clear Herta would not receive a superlicence from the FIA. Driver boss Helmut Marko had been keen on the idea of drafting Herta into F1 to replace Pierre Gasly - should he move to Alpine to take the vacant seat alongside Esteban Ocon for 2023. Red Bull were not keen on losing Gasly to Alpine until a replacement was lined up for AlphaTauri - with Herta's lack of superlicence points proving to be a major stumbling block. However, that stance on the 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner is believed to have softened. Andretti Autosport driver Herta currently has 32 points, when 40 are required to gain a superlicence to compete in F1. The FIA and team bosses felt it would inappropriate to give him an exemption as he does not meet the requirements and there is not a case of force majeure for COVID-19. The move is now reportedly off, despite Red Bull's best attempts and Marko's frustration.
Lack of superlicence points proved to be downfall
Herta's lack of superlicence points ultimately proved to be the downfall of his F1 race seat ambitions for 2023, although he could still take part in FP1 sessions or private tests. A potential test for Herta in the upcoming Alpine evaluation day at the Hungaroring was arranged by Red Bull, according to well-placed sources. The intention was to prove to the FIA that Herta did have what it takes to drive F1 machinery and subsequently award him a superlicence. If this happened, then Red Bull were prepared to let Gasly depart with Herta drafted in at AlphaTauri for 2023. However, Herta's Andretti Autosport boss Michael Andretti is reluctant to lose the services of the California-native - with the FIA also not prepared to amend the superlicence rules to grant him one. As a result, Red Bull dropped its plans to run Herta in the Alpine test, but the well-placed source says it does not firmly shut the door on Gasly moving to the French concern. Red Bull are courting alternatives, with potential candidates not necessarily believed to be part of the Red Bull young driver pool.
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