Helmut Marko remains committed to Colton Herta. On Saturday night it emerged that the American's application for a super license seems to have failed, but Red Bull Racing 's advisor is not content with that. He maintains that Herta can get a super license from the FIA even without rule changes.

It is suggested that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, after reviewing the situation, is keen to adhere to the rules laid down in the International Sporting Code, which offer no way of granting Herta a licence without force majeure. An FIA spokesman told Motorsport.com: "The FIA will not be pressured by any teams into decisions on matters such as superlicence points. The FIA President has implemented robust governance, and we will abide by that."

Hot topic

The issue of a super license for IndyCar star Herta has become a hot topic in the paddock. Herta has been linked with an opportunity at AlphaTauri since the beginning of this month. The current IndyCar driver even has an agreement with Marko to replace Pierre Gasly, who would leave for Alpine, for next year. Herta does not yet have a super license and will not score the necessary forty points with a tenth place finish in the IndyCar Series.

Marko previously applied for a super license for the American, but the application appears to have failed. The FIA does not want to make an exception for the Andretti Autosport driver. Marko, however, thinks that an exception is not necessary at all. The Austrian explains to Laola1.at Herta cannot get enough points due to a 'force majeure' situation.

Super license could be possible

"It's about a race where there were not enough starters at the start. That's why he only got a third of the points," Red Bull's advisor said of Herta not having enough super-licence points. "It's not up to the driver to decide how many drivers are on the start line. The super licence would be possible without bending the existing rules or going against the regulations."

For that reason, a test in a Formula 1 car is planned for Herta. Remarkably, this will not take place in a Red Bull or AlphaTauri car. "The intention isthat Herta will take a Formula 1 test in the Alpine in Budapest. This test must pass before we travel to Singapore," said Marko, who himself has not yet heard anything from the FIA about the super licence. "It was said that the decision should be made this weekend, but so far we have not received any signals."