“I don’t want to be an exception,” American race car driver Colton Herta is satisfied with not being granted a Formula 1 license exemption. “I don’t want to be an exception,” the 22-year-old told Motorsport.com.
Red Bull initially focused on Hertha. The Austrian team considered him the perfect candidate to take the AlphaTauri sister team seat in 2023 from Pierre Gasly, who will likely move to the Alps at the end of this year.
Herta has caused a stir in IndyCar for several years, but not only can he move to Formula 1. He hasn’t accumulated enough points yet to qualify for a Formula 1 racing license. That’s why Red Bull requested an exemption, but the request was rejected by the FIA. It looks like Dutchman Nick de Vries will now secure a place in the AlphaTauri.
“I understand the FIA’s view of the current points structure,” said Herta. “Personally, I think the points rating for IndyCar is too low.” “I’ve had opportunities to earn extra points by driving in other classes, but I’ve been a professional driver for four years and haven’t thought about it.”