Despite the final placement in the standings this year, Haas continues to make headlines. The two drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, maximized the potential of the car at their disposal. Despite some considering the performances of the Danish driver somewhat insufficient, he still secured three points finishes with his VF-23.
Nico Hulkenberg, his teammate, was very impressive on Saturdays during qualifying, but the limitations of the car became evident during the race, a similar problem to the one encountered by Scuderia Ferrari in the 2023 Formula 1 championship. This situation does not exempt Guenther Steiner’s team from discussions about the driver market; on the contrary, it accentuates them.
Last summer, the German driver was approached by Sauber, now Team Stake, to try to reach an agreement, but his current contract still ties him to Haas, and therefore, the move couldn’t be finalized. However, this does not mean that this negotiation cannot reignite in the future, especially with Audi joining the paddock in 2026, which could influence driver choices.
Oliver Bearman in Haas? Guenther Steiner is happy
Returning to Haas, the American team, after a couple of seasons with a lineup of young drivers, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, has decided to focus exclusively on experienced profiles, although Team Principal Guenther Steiner seems to have recently changed his mind on the matter.
The young driver who may have influenced the manager’s choice is undoubtedly the British Oliver Bearman, who participated in the free practice sessions 1 in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, astonishing the entire team with his dedication to work and mentality. Speaking of the driver from the Ferrari Driver Academy, Guenther Steiner stated: “He did a good job and remained very calm. He behaved very maturely for an eighteen-year-old and also delivered a good performance in the car. He is confident but not too much; and that is a fine line.”
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
In the 2024 season, Ollie will compete alongside Kimi Antonelli in Formula 2 driving for Prema and will have to give his all, both because new cars will be used in the category and because of its difficulty. In F2, we will find names that have been part of the motorsport scene for many years, making it challenging to stand out. However, the goal of the eighteen-year-old Englishman will be to perform well to get noticed and possibly capitalize on an opportunity that could open up towards Formula 1, possibly with Haas, as early as 2025.
Leave a Reply