The Formula 1 rumor mill continues to simmer. While Mick Schumacher is still without a new contract, Daniel Ricciardo is at McLaren at the end of the season. Is the veteran Aussie a candidate for Haas? Team boss Günther Steiner takes a stand.
The summer break is over, but the “silly season” is far from over. There is still a lot of speculation and discussion going on in Formula 1. Daniel Ricciardo is at the center of the rumors these days. For the 33-year-old, McLaren is not going any further. The Australian is immediately associated with Haas. However, team manager Günther Steiner does not want to overestimate this.
“When something like this happens in the driver market, you talk to everyone. That’s part of my job. You’re interested in everything. What’s possible? What’s not possible? You get the information, then we’ll make decisions about how we continue. Are we going to continue with Mick? Are we going to change something? We haven’t made a decision yet,” said the South Tyrolean before the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa in an interview with RTL / ntv.
Haas is “in a good position,” said Steiner. “There are enough good drivers to take, so we’re in no hurry at the moment,” said the official. Steiner “contacted” Ricciardo before the McLaren decision – that’s all. “We just texted,” the 57-year-old clarified. There were “not at all” agreements about a contract with the “Honey Badger”.
Steiner feels no time pressure
While Kevin Magnussen has a secure contract with Haas for 2023, Mick Schumacher’s sporting future is still unclear.
The team wants to “make the right decision,” emphasized Steiner. Personally, he would “prefer to make the decision tomorrow, then I have one less problem,” revealed the Haas team boss, who at the same time does not allow himself to be put under pressure. “If we can do it earlier, fine. If it’s later, that’s fine too. We just want to make the right decision,” said Steiner.
When asked what Schumacher’s strongest arguments for Haas to stay, Steiner replied to RTL / ntv: “His strongest arguments are the two races in Silverstone and Austria. For me, those are always the strongest arguments for a driver.”
Performance is “always the most important thing,” said Schumacher’s superior, describing the requirements for a contract. “If the [Leistung] there is, there is no question at all, then everyone would be happy. We just have to make sure that we get the best performance for the team. He showed it at Silverstone and Austria and hopefully he can do it here [Spa] and show again in Zandvoort. You just have to get this consistency that it’s not always this up and down ride. But I think he’s on the right track at the moment,” Steiner said of Schumacher.
That’s why Giovinazzi is allowed to train
Speculations have recently picked up speed again because Antonio Giovinazzi will start for Haas in Monza and Austin in the first free practice session. Schumacher and teammate Kevin Magnussen each have to take a break.
“We have a working relationship with Ferrari, which is very fair and good. The relationship with Ferrari and Mattia Binotto is very good. We spoke just before the summer break. Mattia said he would like to have Antonio drive a 2022 car because he does it on the simulator,” Steiner commented on Giovinazzi’s planned start of training. Because of this, the Haas team boss agreed.
“Our drivers were also completely in agreement and let’s see what someone else thinks of our car,” explained Steiner. Giovinazzi is officially tied to Ferrari. Most recently, the 28-year-old competed in Formula E and also acts as a reserve driver for Scuderia.