Former target no longer an option for Red Bull: 'Is off the table'

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko no longer has an F1 seat for American Colton Herta, who was previously in the picture to become part of the Red Bull family. According to the Austrian, the IndyCar driver is now too old, he told Motorsport-Total.com.

Marko might have liked to have given Herta Nyck de Vries' seat before the Dutchman signed with AlphaTauri. Herta was scoring high in US IndyCar and Marko saw the potential in him. However, he did not have enough licence points and the FIA refused to make an exception. Moments later, De Vries drove a star-studded raid at Williams at Monza and the Red Bull boss had found his new 'rookie.'

Herta no longer an option

Now, a year later, Herta is in no way an option anymore. "He is relatively old," Marko said of the 23-year-old driver. "He also doesn't have the necessary experience. Last year that would still have suited us, but not anymore." The Austrian also says Herta will not be able to get a super licence, although that remains to be seen. If Red Bull or AlphaTauri were to give him some test sessions or debut him in another racing class, a super licence is certainly possible.