Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says he doesn’t want to hire an inexperienced driver or one who might only be with the team for a single season.
Steiner is weighing up whether to change his current pairing of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean for the 2020 F1 season. Magnussen has a deal in place to continue at the team but tensions have risen between the two drivers who have collided three times this year.If he does bring a new driver in, Steiner wants someone who can stay with the team long-term. “It would need to be more for one year,” he said. “I think to be a training ground, we don’t want to be that.”
Recent experience of F1 is especially important, Steiner added. “If you are out two years it is getting very difficult for somebody to take the risk for a team to make a comeback for somebody.”
Pietro Fittipaldi, the team’s official test driver, is not currently able to graduate to F1 because he does not have enough FIA superlicence points. However Steiner said that is not limiting their choice of drivers.
“There is a small pool to pick from but that is not down to superlicences because at the moment we are talking about experienced drivers, not about newcomers,” he said.
However he believes the requirement for drivers to score a minimum of 40 superlicence points in order to enter F1 could reduce teams’ choice of drivers in the future.
“I think the new guys, there is not many around,” he said. “I don’t think that’s a problem right now, that will be more of an issue in the years coming, that there is not many people with a superlicence around and you have to replace people with people which have not been in F1.
“At the moment there’s enough people around which have been in F1. But it will become a problem I will say in five years.”
F1 wants a “high profile” team from the US to join the championship. Where can it find one? Doesn’t it already have one? Read Dieter Rencken’s analysis in today’s edition of his RacingLines column
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2019 F1 season
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Mashiat (@mashiat)
21st August 2019, 7:28
I can think of many “inexperienced” drivers who could drive with more maturity and contribute more points than Magnussen and Grosjean.
Robbie (@robbie)
21st August 2019, 7:57
Lol when I saw that there was one comment so far on this topic, I just knew it would be akin to what you have said. Was thinking similarly, isn’t it already like a training ground?
MG1982 (@mg1982)
21st August 2019, 8:42
Sorry, but you’re exaggerating. None of them is tier1 material, no doubt about it now, but they’re not that much of a disaster either if you ask me. The main issue is that their cars’ performance is just too “volatile”, then it seems worse in race trim than Quali…. just like Ferrari. Whenever the car performed, at least 1 of them delivered, as long as the car ”lasted”. For example, last year, at the start of the season, when ALO labeled their car “2017 Ferrari”. I really believe GRO when he said in 1 race that it’s the worst car he ever raced.
Invisiblekid (@invisiblekid)
21st August 2019, 18:36
The car is very volatile granted, but so are the drivers. How many times could that car have finished in a decent position and didn’t.
Nerrticus (@nerrticus)
21st August 2019, 10:34
Well this would support the Hulk/Bottas rumors I keep seeing. Experienced, current drivers who I’m sure would jump at having multi-year stability if they lose their current rides.
I wonder how much the K-Mag factor hurts Hulk chances though…
JohnH (@johnrkh)
21st August 2019, 12:43
@nerrticus I’m thinking Bottas.
Hugh (@hugh11)
21st August 2019, 14:20
Perez to Haas; Russell to Racing Point; Ocon to Renault; Hulk to Alfa; Giovinazzi or Grosjean to Williams. I’d like that.
Shimks (@shimks)
22nd August 2019, 13:00
Grosjean finally out of F1 – I’d like that! I supported him for many seasons but he’s been a major disappointment.
@nerrticus @johnrkh @hugh11
Adam (@rocketpanda)
21st August 2019, 12:21
I really like Haas but sometimes I think they act like they’re a much bigger team than they are, and this statement – that they won’t be a ‘training ground’ for young drivers feels a little off. On one hand I rather admire them taking a stand for what they believe in but on the other I think they’re missing the point.
Red Pill
22nd August 2019, 1:50
I think he was saying they’re not going to be Ferrari’s Jr feeding team.
Yeah, they’re small and need the support of bigger teams but they want to grow and mature as solid and capable team in F1.
They don’t yet have a good junior driver program that they can pull from. Pietro Fittipaldi does not have the experience or finishes that is typical of a qualified F1 rookie and no F2 experience. Any good winning F2 driver will be attached to a team already and HAAS will only get scraps. They pretty much only have the choice of getting an older driver. Strong whispers Hulkenburg will be going to HAAS next year as Toto Said Ocon is going to Renault.
FLAVIO BALSANTE
22nd August 2019, 12:04
I do agree. Also I believe their current car situation will not benefit having an inexperienced driver.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
21st August 2019, 13:05
How dare they say that when the “experienced” drivers they have now keep crashing against each other?? Put a Russell or a Norris in there and see the difference…
Aleš Norský (@gpfacts)
21st August 2019, 13:22
Kvyat has spent a year with Ferrari and should be able to fit in…
Phylyp (@phylyp)
21st August 2019, 14:40
@gpfacts – Wehrlein is currently Ferrari’s development driver, so he might be another candidate to consider, if Kvyat isn’t an option. Pascal would bring with him the ability to offer feedback on the car’s setup and behaviour.
Cranberry
21st August 2019, 15:14
I honestly see this as a highly likely occurrence.
Kvyat’s position in RedBull’s organisation is now made abundantly obvious to everyone, there is nothing keeping him at RedBull.
JohnH (@johnrkh)
21st August 2019, 15:23
Yeah I think so as well, he is a good driver I would think he has a couple of options.
Shimks (@shimks)
22nd August 2019, 13:04
Ooh, I would by very very happy for Kvyat to have a chance like that. Good kid. Lots of potential still, me thinks.
@gpfacts @phylyp @johnrkh
Electroball76
21st August 2019, 18:24
Hulk and Bottas would probably be a good pairing. Low drama, plenty of experience.
Invisiblekid (@invisiblekid)
21st August 2019, 18:32
Surely having drivers that can score points regularly and don’t cost you £100,000s would be a good place to start.
Gunter
21st August 2019, 19:20
But it does feel like Gro and Mag are being constantly ‘trained’. Neither seem capable of putting a half decent season or even race weekend together!
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
22nd August 2019, 0:32
So maybe Ocon is in with a chance here.
I still don’t understand what’s taking Mercedes so long, they’ve got two obvious drivers to choose from, plus you could throw in a few extra’s like George Russell.
Bridge Wilson (@gwbridge)
22nd August 2019, 1:10
HaasF1 will keep Magnussen and replace Grosjean. There will be several decent drivers who would got to them. Haas has always said they want their drivers to sign for at least two years. It’s not the least bit unreasonable for them to say they aren’t a training ground. They can’t afford to be a training ground. These guys, for all of their faults, are racers, and as a team they have reasonable expectations. They have enough variables to deal with without bringing in a driver who has not driven in F1 and is learning the ropes. They don’t need Louis Hamilton to challenge for best of the rest. They do need to get a handle on the car so that their drivers are not making desperate banzai moves, particularly against each other. Grosjean was a good catch for the team when they first signed him, but he’s worn out his welcome with too many mistakes. Since Haas has so far staggered their drivers’ contracts, it looks like Magnussen has signed papers and Grosjean does not. So long, Romain.
Hein Vandenbergh
23rd August 2019, 5:10
If this keeps up Ricciardo will do a season with HAAS and slide into Ferrari in Vettel’s place in 2021. It’ll be like one of his silent overtaking moves. Renault is stuffed, their boss Goshan a crook in jail, and they cannot deliver. Pee-off out of F1, Renault. And there IS a performance clause in Ricci’s contract. HAAS meantime will benefit, and give their other potential drivers a chance to get their Superlicence points during 2020. Danny, watcha waiting for?