Gunther Steiner revealed at the Brazilian race in Interlagos that Haas would be making the announcement which decides their driver line up for 2023. The reason he gave was the team want both their future drivers to be available for the post race test in Abu Dhabi.
“Expect the announcement sometime next week,” he said. “I’m not telling you a day because then everybody will be waiting for that day. It will be coming next week,” said Steiner.
“We are just sorting out details, how are we going to do, what we are going to do.”
Steiner previously tried to sign Hulkenberg
Haas will run two experienced drivers next season as the German media reports a deal has been struck between the American owned team and Nico Hülkenberg.
The Haas F1 team debuted in 2016 with drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez although the Mexican significantly underperformed scoring zero points. Steiner wanted to replace Gutierrez with Hulkenberg for 2017 however the German left the Force India and instead joined the works Renault team for the next 3 seasons.
Haas did replace Gutierrez with their current lead driver Kevin Magnussen.
Mick Schumacher is set to leave the team having been somewhat strung along with the promise his future remained in his own hands follow got summer break. However it appears he has a glimmer of hope on the horizon following Toto Wolff’s comments this weekend.
Wolff interested in signing Mick Schumacher
“I don’t know what the exact situation is with Mick is at Haas,” Wolff commented to media after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
“I believe that the most important thing for him is that he gets a race seat, but I make no secret of the fact that the Schumacher family belongs to Mercedes.
“We value Mick both as a person and as a race driver, and that’s why we would consider taking up this option if he does not get a race seat, but that [a race seat] must be his first priority because he deserves one.”
Mick’s father of course came out of retirement to join the newly acquired Mercedes team from Brawn for the 2010 F1 season.
Ricciardo set to return ‘home’
Following McLaren’s announcement they were parting company with Daniel Ricciardo several races ago, Mercedes were linked with the possibility of recruiting the Aussie as their reserve driver.
However, in a bizarre twist of history, Ricciardo is now almost nailed on to return to Red Bull Racing where he had much of his early career success winning 7 grand prix in four seasons.
This does not bode well for Sergio Perez given Ricciardo has been adamant he will be back on the grid with a front running team for 2024.
The Mexican has delivered for Red Bull this season even being asked to let Verstappen through for a race win in Barcelona. That said Perez prefers a car that understeers while team mate Verstappen prefers the opposite characteristic.
Recruiting a driver like Ricciardo who has similar driving style to Verstappen would make sense for the team going forward given the direction of development for the Red Bull cars will be towards Verstappen’s style and away from Perez’s.
READ MORE: Verstappen punished again
Two overtakes for the price of one for Max ✌️#BrazilGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gmXeEvA1M8
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 14, 2022
