Colton Herta’s attempt to reach Formula 1 in 2023 ended in frustration, even with a contract ready for signing. The American revealed that the agreement with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) was only not finalized due to his lack of an FIA superlicence.
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The case gained prominence by showing how off-track decisions can define careers in F1, as Herta was even considered a replacement for Pierre Gasly when the Frenchman transferred to Alpine. However, the FIA’s refusal of the exception request made by Red Bull Racing (owner of Racing Bulls) ended any immediate chance of his debut.
In an interview with the Beyond the Grid podcast, Herta described the period as a roller coaster of expectations, marked by frequent conversations with Helmut Marko, then a Red Bull consultant. According to him, the chances of a deal constantly varied, going from about 80% to 40% overnight, which increased the uncertainty about the outcome.
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Despite already having the contract in hand, the driver could not sign it because he did not meet the forty points required for the superlicence; he only had thirty-two. Faced with the impasse, he decided to renew with Andretti in IndyCar, a move that proved decisive in avoiding an even worse scenario.
Herta acknowledged that the choice was correct, as without the superlicence, he could have been left without a spot in both F1 and IndyCar. Currently, he continues to seek an opportunity in the category, competing in Formula 2 and participating in FP1 sessions with Cadillac, while working to finally meet the necessary requirements and try to obtain the superlicence points.
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