Haas Not Saying No to American Driver in Future

[Paul Jeffrey]

Gene Haas has clarified his positon on signing an American Formula One driver, stating that although the potential exists, his team need to first concentrate on building a better car.

With recent comments from Team Principal Gunther Steiner indicating that a home grown talent isn't high on the list of priorities for Haas F1, even going so far as to say that no appropriate candidate exists in American motorsport at present - much to the chagrin of many high profile motorsport personalities, Haas has gone on record to state that although he would like to see an American talent in Formula One, it is better for his squad to first concentrate on building a solid foundation within the team.

"The fact is that we're still learning here in Formula 1, and bringing on a driver who needs to learn about Formula 1 probably isn't the best thing for us or them" said Haas recently.​

"We're not saying no to having an American driver, but the reality is that of the American drivers who have a superlicense and could actually compete in F1, they should really be with a team that can serve as their benchmark rather than the other way around," he added.​

Haas F1 have made a very solid start to their career in top flight motorsport as they head into their third season of competition, having consistently scored points in both campaigns and often having shown pace capable of running well inside the top ten positions.

With success in various different forms of motorsport competition over the years, most notably in the American NASCAR series, Haas is setting his team targets higher than just the occasional points paying finish in the coming years, with nothing short of a podium challenge on the horizon for the newest team in Grand Prix racing..

"... this is only our third year and we need to improve in a variety of areas, and Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen are playing a big part in that improvement because of their experience.

"They help us, rather quickly, determine if the course we're taking is a proper one or if we need to re-think our approach.

"That experience is invaluable as we look to become a team that can eventually challenge for podiums instead of just points."
​

When pushed on the prospects of running in Grand Prix racing with a fellow countryman behind the wheel, contrary to the comments of his Team Principle Haas does believe American talent is available and ready to race at the top level of open wheel competition, but are held back by lack of experience in Formula One racing.

"I believe in American drivers, my NASCAR team is full of them, and we've won a lot of races and championships," Added Haas.

"Obviously, the discipline is different, but sure, there are competent American drivers who can compete in Formula 1.

"But we're not ready for that yet"
​

With Alex Rossi holding an Indy 500 victory to his name and having participated in numerous Grand Prix events, plus top IndyCar talents such as Marco Andretti, Charlie Kimball, Spencer Pigot and Josef Newgarden to name but a few, Formula One could yet see an American in Grand Prix racing over the next couple of years, just not in a Haas it seems...

If you like your motorsport fast and open wheeled, check out the Formula One sub forum and get yourself in on the discussion today!

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Do you think Haas should support American drivers in Formula One? Which American racers are capable of performing in Grand Prix racing? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[ME9Swe]

There's plenty of talent in the Indycar series! Heck why dont put someone from there Nascar team in the car!

 

[billymitchell]

...Heck why dont put someone from there Nascar team in the car!

Most NASCAR drivers can’t physically fit in a F1 car..

 

[theravenousbeast]

Slow news day, eh?

 

[DND]

"I believe in American drivers, my NASCAR team is full of them, and we've won a lot of races and championships," Added Haas.​

Yeah , not sure that argument really makes a positive impact on......well, for anything. If not the driver of the clown bus, certainty in the front seat.​

 

[Isaac Chavira]

I should hope with them being an American team. For God's sake get rid of the halo ring!!!!!!! It is hiteous!!!!

 

[Isaac Chavira]

There's plenty of talent in the Indycar series! Heck why dont put someone from there Nascar team in the car!

I know right, they are similair in a way. It may a take a seaon for the Indy driver to fully acclimate.

 

[@apocapollo]

Haas hasn't even done a car swap with his NASCAR teams yet. It's annoying. Last time there was any swap was Tony Stewart and Lewis Hamilton back in 2011, and that was in a car that Gene owned half of.

And it's not like they can't fit in the cars. Stewart's a fat SOB and he fit. Kurt Busch fit into the GP3 cars that Yas Marina has. Danica was tiny.

Just so many missed opportunities at the F1 team.

 

[swissarmyknifer]

and in more news, the halo will arrive..... on feb 19 they are releasing the new RB14

 

[RichardHessels]

It's difficult to make a car better if your drivers don't have enough mileage behind a proper F1.
So only a team that fully confident about their performance can have the luxury of getting a driver from another series to compete in their car.

 

[ChaosZeroJK]

Despite the PR babble, Haas is destined to become the new Sauber as they refuse to accept help from Ferrari and think they can become competitive on their own. Granted Sauber will not become a title contender overnight and will still be relegated to midfield tier, they did the right thing by having Ferrari being more than just an engine supplier. Something that Haas doesn't want to do.

Fact is, F1 is not spec racing like Nascar or Indycar, cars aren't equal and never will. This is probably the worst era for a new team to join from a technical standpoint and they won't go far on their own.

When even teams such as Williams can't figure out why their car is trash despite all their years of experience and hundreds of engineers and technicians and state of the art facilities at their disposal (LMP1 and LMP2 teams often go to them to use their wind tunnel rather than renting someone else's), I find it hard to believe that a team that is going for just its 3rd season will have better results. The tools are there, with the Dallara chassis being good and the Ferrari engine proven to be on par with Mercedes, the problem are the ones wielding said tools.

And I don't think they have the best drivers for the job either. Grosjean has been in F1 since 2009 or so and ever since his Renault/Lotus days, I've rarely heard him say anything constructive to his engineers, but Magnussen? This will be his 4th year (5th considering he spent one as a reserve driver after being dropped from McLaren for Alonso). Hardly a newcomer anymore, but still I don't see where his experience is supposed to come from where everything he can account for are 1 year in an alleged top team and 2 years in a midfield team at best and negative attitude all around at worse.

 

[Frietpan]

They should get that Richard Mille guy to drive since his name is on the side of the car....

 

[jpalesi]

Micro Andretti and Charlie Kimball top IndyCar talents ?

 

[wombat999]

Gene Haas made a statement along the lines of 'We are new and we couldn't bring in a driver new to F1 and give him the time needed to settle in".
He's right and the previous attempts by American drivers have proved problematic.
Michael Andretti failed to adapt to the F1 environment for reason that had nothing to do with his ability, Scott Speed and Sea-bass were victims of the toxic culture within RBR/STR, even Marco Andretti who did a decent job in the 'World Series' (or WTF it was called) never had an invitation.
As for the 'Give a NASCAR/Indycar driver a seat' mentality, not going to happen!
Danica Patrick would be the slowest driver in an Indycar/CART entry I've seen, at the (much missed) Surfers Paradise round she was a mobile chicane.
The only way into F1 is the European route, almost defined these days as Karting through F3 (or similar) and maybe into F1.
I doubt there are many who could follow the 'Stroll SSSSSSSSS' route either.
'Racing USA' does not provide a platform for would be F1 drivers to build on.
Frankly, Gene Haas owns his team and he has every right to pick any driver that fits his operation, end of story.
Here's a thought, If an American in F1 would be of value to widening interest in the USA, how about Liberty financing one?

 

[Thang Nguyen]

Hmmm... An American F1 driver will compete in the near future???
"SPEED... I am SPEED..."
XD

 

[bsmooth]

Maybe we should bring in an F1 American Sim driver ! Any volunteers ?

 

[samprince053]

Scott Speed

 

[Mauricio Matos]

Slow news day, eh?

Maybe it will rain this week or Not !!!

 

[wombat999]

Scott Speed

Last seen by YHS piloting a Volkswagen in a Rallycross event..........

 

[Rodent]

I mean... Is any team? The headline amuses me. I suppose if Renault was run by the ghost of De Gaulle it would make sense.