Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has called upon the FIA to "respect the rules" in a blow to Red Bull's plans for the AlphaTauri driver lineup next season.
Pierre Gasly is contracted to spend another year with the team, though it seems unlikely that will happen. The Frenchman is wanted by Alpine, and the driver is said to be keen on a fresh start with another chance at the Red Bull senior team seemingly off the table.
To replace him, it has been made clear that Red Bull fancy IndyCar star Colton Herta. The American is well respected as a racer and would bring huge sponsorship benefits to the team and to the sport, but there is a problem.
Herta does not have the points required to qualify for a superlicence under current rules. That means, as it stands, he would not be allowed to race in F1 until he has made up the eight extra points he needs.
The FIA is looking into the case and has the power to grant him a superlicence anyway through Force Majeure, should the governing body wish to do so. Many rival teams have said they would have no problem with that, but F1 chief Domenicali seems to be against bending the rules.
While he is certainly aware of the financial benefits Herta could bring to a sport that has gained real traction in the USA in recent years, Domenicali is concerned about the fairness of allowing the IndyCar driver to join F1 if he does not qualifying under current legislation. "The sport needs to respect the rules," the Italian told Autosport.
"American drivers or other drivers are very important. If he is eligible to come in F1 because he has the points, it's fantastic news. But there is a ladder to follow, there is a protocol to respect, and that is the situation. So it's really what I believe is right to do."
On the idea of changing the current points system for IndyCar drivers, Domenicali added: "I don't think it's right to change something retrospectively, I think the right thing to do is to apply the rules. If there is some point to be to discussed, if there is a need to update the rules, there is the right forum on which everyone can bring ideas or points for discussion. But today, the rule is that one should be respected. That's my opinion."
If Herta's move to F1 is blocked by the FIA, Red Bull could turn instead to junior driver Liam Lawson, who currently races in F2. Or, if they decide the New Zealander is not ready, they might block Gasly's exit and tell him he must honour the final year of his AlphaTauri deal.
