Haas Open to Replace Mick Schumacher or Nikita Mazepin With an American Driver: Steiner

Haas are the only American team on the current F1 grid, and the first since Haas Lola in 1985. With Guenther Steiner as the Team Principal, they started well in F1, with 2018 being their best season. However, they are far from that level of success at the moment.

While they have two rookies in Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin this season, there is always talk of Haas having American driver race for them in the future. Recently, Steiner addressed this possibility while mentioning what makes that prospect difficult to achieve.

Guenther Steiner reveals Haas would like an American driver in their team

Haas have locked Schumacher and Mazepin as their drivers till the end of next season. Although both drivers are just 22 years old, they are in the American team‘s long-term plans. However, a team would always look forward to having a driver from their own country race for them. Given USA’s history with motor sports, Haas F1 faces more pressure on this front as well.

Steiner believes F1 would enjoy seeing an American driver on the grid again. He also believes F3 drivers could be on their way to making it in F1 in the future. The Italian said, “Yes, Formula 1 would like an American driver and we would like an American driver, but at the moment obviously we are looking into it.

“It will come. We just need to be patient at some stage. There are a few guys in Formula 3 which look promising and let’s see what can be done.”

Currently, there are four American drivers in F3, namely Logan Sargent, Kaylen Frederick, Jak Crawford and Juan Manuel Correa.

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Steiner points out the key issue with bringing in American drivers to F1

Although Steiner likes the prospect of an American driver racing for Haas, he admits the super licence poses an issue. Every driver racing in F1 needs a super licence to be eligible to race.

The Italian believes the lack of super licences among American drivers makes this idea infeasible for the short term. “There is one thing out there, which is a Super Licence, which not many have got at the moment, and then it needs to be a talent,” said Steiner.

“I think it needs to be something, not immediate but short-term you cannot do anything to get someone in because of the Super Licence.”

While the possibility seems bleak at the moment, an American driver on the grid is an exciting one, especially for Haas.

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