An American super-talent with one foot in AlphaTauri! Will the FIA grant him a special permit?

While Pierre Gasly’s transfer to Alpine seems more and more likely, his team has already chosen his replacement. But he can’t officially race in Formula 1 because he still lacks a superlicence. Will he receive an exemption from the FIA?

In an interview with SpeedCity Broadcasting, Red Bull boss Helmut Marko let it be known that Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri has an agreement with American driver Colton Herta for next season.

Herta is currently racing in the IndyCar series and is eighth in the drivers’ championship with 362 points. However, he fared better last season. He won three races and finished the season in fifth place overall.

Although there is no doubt about the American’s talent, he is not eligible for a place in the queen of motorsport according to the rules. To enter F1, a driver must have 40 points on his superlicence. Herta has 32.

Marko believes that the American racer is entitled to an exception in the rules due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Normally, points earned in the last three years are put on the superlicence. But now, the three “best” years out of the last four count.

In addition, if a driver has more than 30 points and has not been able to score 40 points due to “circumstances beyond his control or due to force majeure”, the superlicence can be granted at the discretion of the FIA.

“First we need a definitive answer from the FIA, we should get that in Monza. Colton has won seven races in IndyCar, which is the equivalent of the Grand Prix, so I think it would be a shame if he doesn’t get the superlicence,” commented Helmut Marko.

If Herta gets the exemption, he will be the first American driver in Formula 1 since Alexander Rossi raced for Marussia in 2015.

F1, Planet F1