McLaren supports Colton Herta receiving an exemption to compete in Formula One next season,
and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko says a deal is in place to bring the American to the grid.
Any deal would be contingent on Herta, a 22-year-old IndyCar star from California,
receiving an exemption from F1's governing body for the Super License required to compete, Marko told SiriusXM.
“Astonishingly enough, all of the parties and teams involved, we found an agreement,” Marko said. “
First we have to get a definite answer (from the FIA) and I think it should be by Monza," site of the next F1 race.
The Dutch Grand Prix was rife with rumors and speculation that Herta is in line for a seat in 2023 with AlphaTauri,
the junior team for Red Bull. That created spirited debate over the rules for licensing a driver and if Herta,
winner of seven races over four IndyCar seasons, should be considered for an FIA exemption.
McLaren head Zak Brown told The Associated Press the team is in favor of the FIA clearing Herta to compete.
Herta is under an IndyCar contract with Andretti Autosport through 2023 but has an F1 contract with McLaren through 2024.
Herta tested for McLaren in Portugal over two days in July and has been on the McLaren simulator.
“We have had Colton in our simulator and our F1 car for testing and are probably in a better position than anyone to give an opinion," Brown said.
"Our opinion is that he would be a great addition to the F1 grid and is very deserving of a Super License.”
Drivers need to accumulate 40 points to obtain a Super License based on their best three performances over the previous four seasons.