Haas ‘getting closer’ to confirming line up

Michelle Foster
Mick_Schumacher

Mick_Schumacher

Haas are “getting closer” to confirming their 2021 driver line-up but Guenther Steiner isn’t putting a date on it.

After featuring the same line-up for four years with Romain Grosjean partnering Kevin Magnussen, Haas will have an all new line-up next season.

Grosjean, who has been with Haas since its very first Formula 1 campaign in 2016, announced in October that he would be leaving the team at the end of the year with Magnussen following suit hours later.

While initially rumours suggested Haas could run a rookie alongside either Sergio Perez or Nico Hulkenberg, it now looks as if the team will have an all-rookie line up.

Haas is expected to confirm Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin as its two drivers.

When that will happen, though, has yet to be decided.

“I don’t want to tell you a date because then you keep on asking me,” Steiner said. “So I learn from the best at giving answers.

“I don’t know when we announce it.

“We are getting closer. We’re getting close, put it this way.”

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Magnussen reckons Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, would be a welcome addition to Haas.

He, however, is only assuming Schumacher is on the list as, like the rest of us, Haas are also keeping Magnussen in the dark as to who will be his replacement.

“I think depending on who they announce, there are some young drivers out there that really are good drivers,” he said as part of the In The Pink podcast.

“I think Schumacher has got to be on the list. I don’t know these things, neither Guenther or Gene tell me any of this but I’m assuming that Schumacher is on the list.

“I’ve met him and talked to him and he seems like a very bright young lad and obviously he’s a big talent, he’s leading the F2 championship and driving brilliantly.

“So I think he, certainly, is going to be good, whatever he brings in terms of deals with him. I’m sure just in the driving and his ability, I think he’s going to be great for the team.”

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