{"id":15290,"date":"2022-09-24T13:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/?p=15290"},"modified":"2022-09-24T13:16:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T12:16:27","slug":"helmut-marko-reveals-red-bull-failed-to-poach-driver-due-to-mclaren-complications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/helmut-marko-reveals-red-bull-failed-to-poach-driver-due-to-mclaren-complications\/","title":{"rendered":"Helmut Marko reveals Red Bull failed to poach driver due to ‘McLaren complications’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Red Bull adviser, Dr Helmut Marko, has disclosed that Andretti made an improved offer to Colton Herta in order to convince him to stay next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to Formula 1 in 2022, and he completed a test in Portugal with McLaren in preparation for a potential future drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By all accounts, the American impressed in his appearance with the eight-time champions, but they have gone with Oscar Piastri for the 2023 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons for this is that Herta does not currently hold enough points to qualify for a super license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ: McLaren boss admits concern about Red Bull \u2018snatching\u2019 their driver for 2023<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has 32 of the necessary 40 points needed to obtain one, so one more season in IndyCar should be enough to get him over the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one argument is that the FIA should be rating the American series more highly, but the governing body will not budge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is despite pressure from Red Bull, who have been trying to acquire Herta\u2019s services in case AlphaTauri\u2019s Pierre Gasly heads to Alpine next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will only let the Frenchman go if they can find a suitable replacement, and because they are not entirely happy with their junior options, they pursued one of IndyCar\u2019s brightest young stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as the FIA closing the door, for now, on Herta\u2019s F1 dream, Dr Marko suggests that Andretti made him a better offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Andretti increased their offer to Herta so that he stays there,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, the 79-year-old affirmed that Herta\u2019s relationship with McLaren made things more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He has to arrange the obligations to McLaren and Andretti himself if he wants to come to us,” added Dr Marko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herta praised the efforts of Nyck de Vries who, after winning the Formula 2 and Formula E titles in recent years, made his debut appearance with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dutchman\u2019s points finish put him on the radar for an F1 drive next year, but Herta does not feel any resentment towards the added competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He’s already 27, 28, but with what he did in Monza, he got a lot of attention from a number of places,” he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It proves that when you get the chance, you have to take it. He did, so all credit to him.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before reaching the pinnacle of motorsport, the Andretti driver still feels that he has unfinished business in IndyCar, having finished last season 10th<\/sup> in the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There are a few things that we and I need to improve, I’m not yet a fully championship-worthy driver – or at least I wasn’t this year,\u201d added Herta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andretti Global, led by IndyCar champion Michael, made an attempt to buy the Sauber Group last year in a move that might have seen Herta get the chance to race for them in years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That deal fell through, but there will be more opportunities for the American.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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George Russell makes bold \u2018on paper\u2019 claim for 2022 Singapore Grand Prix https:\/\/t.co\/27cytzYdNn<\/a><\/p>— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) September 21, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>