In a highly competitive sport like Formula 1, nurturing young talent becomes of paramount importance, considering everything that goes into it beyond pure racing. Red Bull finds itself with a stellar junior academy and a testing ground in Formula 1 in the guise of AlphaTauri. However, Team Advisor Helmut Marko is far from impressed this season.

Pierre Gasly might be on course to joining Alpine next year. However, Marko does not feel that Gasly’s replacement would come from Red Bull’s stable of drivers. Instead, IndyCar hero Colton Herta may pave his way into Formula 1. Helmut Marko explains why.

Marko has not been impressed by Jehan Daruvala, Juri Vips, or Liam Lawson. Further, he believes Ayumu Iwasa “needs a second Formula 2 season.”. Hence, Red Bull‘s urgency to sort the Colton Herta super license situation out. Helmut Marko alluded to this by remarking, “And Formula 1 is also happy about an American.”(translated via Google Translate).

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In light of Marko’s apprehensions, it seems like AlphaTauri, under the auspices of Red Bull, has already reached an agreement with Colton Herta. This was recently confirmed by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

Red Bull confirms agreement between AlphaTauri and Colton Herta for 2023 race seat

Helmut Marko has been eyeing IndyCar sensation Colton Herta for a while now. In light of Gasly‘s potential move to Alpine next year, it seems as though the American will make his Formula 1 debut in 2023. While accepting that an agreement had been reached to sign Herta, Marko highlighted one major hurdle.

“First, we have to get a definite answer [from the FIA] and I think it should be by Monza – Monza I would say.”. He then went on, “Astonishingly enough, all of the parties and teams involved, we found an agreement.”.

In pure Helmut Marko fashion, he went on to take a dig at IndyCar while justifying why Herta should be allowed to circumvent the FIA’s super license regulations. “It’s nothing unreasonable. He won seven IndyCar races and that’s comparable to a grand prix I think, so it would be a shame if he wouldn’t get a super licence.”

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Herta is undoubtedly a driver with huge potential to thrive in Formula 1. However, Red Bull juniors and affiliates don’t always enjoy that connection. Ask Pierre Gasly for one. Do you think AlphaTauri is the correct destination for Colton Herta to make his Formula 1 debut?