F1: Tost confirms Herta was their man before de Vries

In the Saturday morning Team Representatives Press Conference at the Japanese GP, AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost admitted Nyck de Vries was not being lined up for a 2023 seat until the FIA decided not to give Colton Herta a Super License.

“The purpose for AlphaTauri is to be an ambassador for [the] AlphaTauri [brand] and, of course, still to educate drivers for Red Bull Racing.

“And as I mentioned before, there are a couple of young drivers coming up and we will see then how good they perform in the categories where they are racing. And if they are good enough to join us then in the future.

Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost attends the Team Principals Press Conference prior to final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 08, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

“Of course, there were some talks with Herta, but as he doesn’t have a Super License.

“And when the FIA said that they will not provide him with a Super License, it was clear that he was lo longer an option for Scuderia AlphaTauri, although it would have been good from the marketing side because to have an American driver with this good name I think would have pushed us forward in the American market.

“Because as I mentioned before, we are an ambassador for AlphaTauri, and therefore, this would have been a good possibility from the marketing side, but it didn’t work and then we looked for another option.”