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Haas expects to announce 2021 line-up before Abu Dhabi
The 2021 Haas driver line-up should be confirmed before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, according to team principal Guenther Steiner.
Haas is set to announce the rookie pair of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin as its new drivers, but both still need to complete their Formula 2 seasons and secure the necessary FIA Super License points before their seats can be confirmed. F2’s final rounds take place in Bahrain over this weekend and next, while he insists the driver choice is not results-dependent, Steiner’s comments tally with that timeline.
“We plan to announce it before the season is ending. We don’t know the exact date yet, but it’s not long to wait,” Steiner said. “It’s a maximum of two weeks, so please be patient.
“I think next year, if we bring in rookies it’s a good time to bring in rookies, because the car next year will not be developed a lot because the freeze on the car, the homologation of the car, so you cannot make big changes. Obviously we can make aero changes but the car will not change in the fundamentals.
“So it is a development, and next year our focus will be on 2022 anyway, so it’s a transition year for us. So it would be a good year for rookies to come in, to learn being in Formula 1, getting to know the people that are around, how to go to press conferences and things like this, so I think it will be a good year, but the development will be very small next year.”
RACER understands details are still being worked on regarding the deals, but Haas should be in a position to make an announcement as soon as the F2 season is complete. Doing so is also likely to lead to both Schumacher and Mazepin take part in the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, while one of the two might get an FP1 outing at the final round.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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