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Haas: Low budget requires F1 driver merry-go-round to begin for 2020 seat choice

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John S:
Sounds like there will be change at Haas for next year or why would Steiner go into so much detail about the driver market with F1i.com, see article below.

However whether they intend to replace one or both of their 'shunt brothers' is still up in the air.  - Best guess 'Wrecker Romain' will be out in the cold, although I'd get shot of both.   

Haas boss Guenther Steiner is mulling the future of his team's line-up but insists potential choices may not become clear until the driver's market is set in motion.
In addition to the mystifying troubles impacting its car this season, Haas has had to contend with the costly on-track run-ins of its drivers.

Many doubt the US outfit will bank on continuity for 2020 by keeping both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean onboard, with the Frenchman seen as the most likely one to depart the team.
Rumors have placed Renault's Nico Hulkenberg at Haas for next year, as well as Esteban Ocon should the Mercedes protégé miss out on a plum drive with the Silver Arrows.
Finally, former Sauber driver and current Mahindra Formula E charger Pascal Wehrlein has also been linked with Gene Haas' outfit.

But given Haas' limited means, Steiner suggests his team might wait until the music stops and then see who happens to be without a chair.
"You're trying to figure out how the driver market is evolving, and then you're making the best decisions about what the market offers you, and that means seeing who's available, who is not, and who we can afford," Steiner told Motorsport-Magazin.
"There is one domino to fall and then the others fall in. Nothing is moving yet, the question is when will the first move, but maybe nothing will move.
"A lot of things still have to happen - some drivers are out of contract, but we cannot afford any current drivers on the market anyway."

While Steiner would welcome an opportunity to work with Ocon, the Italian sees drawbacks associated with the former Force India driver.
"When you've been out for a year, of course, your stock goes down, also Steiner won't settle for a one-year contract.
"Having a driver for just one year is usually not very productive," he admitted. "It would have to be for more than a year as we don't want to just be a training ground for someone."

Would Steiner take a chance on Wehrlein, who currently serves as Ferrari's simulator driver in addition to his Formula E commitment?
"He's been out for two years now, so it's difficult to come back," said the 54-year-old team boss.
"On the other hand, he races in Formula E, so he is not quite out and there seems to be the will to come back.
"But of course, it's also a big risk for him, and you have to ask him if he would want to do that.

article courtesy Michael Delaney, F1i.com, Sun 18th Aug.

cosworth151:
I think you may be right about Grosjean. I'm afraid it will come down to who's left without a ride but with a large bag o' swag.

I'd still love to see Josef Newgarden get a ride at Haas. He's a top rate drive (currently leads IndyCar). He can also deliver results at a seriously underfunded team, as he proved during his time at Sarah Fisher Racing.

Jericoke:

--- Quote from: cosworth151 on August 20, 2019, 06:33:36 PM ---I think you may be right about Grosjean. I'm afraid it will come down to who's left without a ride but with a large bag o' swag.

I'd still love to see Josef Newgarden get a ride at Haas. He's a top rate drive (currently leads IndyCar). He can also deliver results at a seriously underfunded team, as he proved during his time at Sarah Fisher Racing.

--- End quote ---

I know that IndyCar to F1 doesn't always work out, but the drivers in IndyCar generally are the best drivers in the world who aren't in F1. 

If Liberty wants to grow F1 in the USA, finding common ground with American open wheel fans (and organizations) would be an easy place to work.

jimclark:

--- Quote from: cosworth151 on August 20, 2019, 06:33:36 PM ---I'd still love to see Josef Newgarden get a ride at Haas. He's a top rate drive (currently leads IndyCar). He can also deliver results at a seriously underfunded team, as he proved during his time at Sarah Fisher Racing.
--- End quote ---
'Not knocking Newgarden by any means but doing well in a lower funded spec series team doesn't ensure doing well in an underfunded F1 team.....

Dare:
I'd like to see drivers get in F1 by merit not money. There's a
few I'd like to see gone. Gros would be a good start

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