Timo Glock warns Haas have a tough task ‘taming’ Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen

Michelle Foster

Timo Glock has warned Guenther Steiner he has a “task ahead of him to tame” his new driver pairing with both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen fighting to extend their comebacks.

Magnussen returned to the grid last season, signing a two-year deal with Haas, while this year he has a new team-mate in Hulkenberg, the German also making a return.

After three years on the sidelines, Hulkenberg has signed with Haas for the 2023 season with the team said to have an option on him for 2024.

For now, though, only 2023 is confirmed for either driver and Glock reckons that could be the catalyst in a fierce team-mate tussle.

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“The fact is,” the former driver turned pundits told Sky Deutschland, “both only have a one-year contract, so both are fighting for the cockpit.

“I think Guenther Steiner will have a task ahead of him to tame the two.”

The new team-mates, though, have said several times they don’t expect any issues with both adamant they’ve put their 2017 “suck my balls” feud behind them.

Instead they’re focused on working together to drive Haas forward.

That’s what team owner Gene Haas expects from them.

“We head into a new season buoyed by some strong team performances last year and a return to points paying finishes,” he said as Haas launched their 2023 livery on Tuesday.

“The aim for the 2023 season is naturally to do that more consistently and with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg I certainly believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.”

Last season Haas scored points in just eight of the 23 grands prix, the team finishing with 37 points to sit P8 in the Constructors’ Championship.

It has Hulkenberg conceding that while a World title is always the dream, he needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

“Of course you dream of the world title as a racing driver,” he told Speedweek.com, “but you also have to keep your feet on the ground and be realistic.

“My goal is to make the most of my opportunities at Haas in 2023. So that one evening after the operation I can say – nothing more was possible.”