“Have no appetite,” Gunther Steiner rules out any possibility of future rookie signings at Haas

The Haas F1 team has one of the most experienced driver lineups in the 2023 F1 season. The American team decided to let go of Mick Schumacher after two rough and costly seasons with the German driver. The Gunther Steiner-led squad previously also had a troubling time with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin in 2021. Subsequently, Steiner has made it clear that Haas will not be signing rookie drivers.

The 58-year-old was certain that he would not be looking to F1 debutants for now. Gunther Steiner said, “At the moment, I have no appetite for a rookie.” The Haas team boss clarified that the team would opt for veterans instead. Despite the possibility of discovering talented young drivers. He explained, “If you ask me now, we’ll be taking experienced [drivers], with rookies, there’s always a risk and there is an opportunity that you’ll find the ultimate talent.”

However, Gunther Steiner mentioned that a small team like Haas needs drivers that can help the development efforts. This is better achieved with experienced talent. Steiner said, “for us as a team, what we need is experienced drivers to bring the team forward because it still needs development.” Previously, Gunther had stated how Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin damaged the team’s development path due to costly repair bills.

The Italian emphasized the need for the Haas F1 team to move up the pecking order. Gunther Steiner continued, “We are still the youngest team in F1, and the others are getting better and better, and we need to follow and even catch up.”

Related: Gunther Steiner reveals the ‘f**king ridiculous’ cost of Mick Schumacher’s reckless crashes in 2022

Gunther Steiner wants drivers “who know what to do”

The Haas Team Principal believed that experienced drivers could help the American team’s prospects in the sport. Subsequently, Gunther Steiner mentioned its current driver Nico Hulkenberg as an ideal driver in such a case. Steiner stated, “The best way to catch up is with people who know what to do – and that is drivers which have done it [in the midfield] like Nico.”

The 58-year-old praised Hulkenberg for his experience in the midfield as the team tries to learn from the Germa driver, who has raced in the F1 midfield for years. Gunther Steiner said, “He has done it in more than one team which were running in the midfield, and we are trying to get his experience with him giving advice.” Haas has improved significantly since Nico joined Kevin Magnussen in the team’s lineup this season, as both drivers have years of experience in the sport.

Thus, Gunther Steiner has dismissed the idea of Haas signing a rookie driver again. The American team saw the benefit of experienced drivers straight away when it signed Magnussen in 2022. The Danish driver provided the team with a P5 finish in the round opener, along with a surprise pole in Brazil. As such, it seems that Steiner is convinced that experience matters a lot more than young talent for the Haas F1 team.

In case you missed it:

• Michael Schumacher’s family to take legal action on fake AI interview
• “Nobody deserves to be in Formula 1,” Guenther Steiner rubbishes Toto Wolff’s biased criticism of Mick Schumacher’s Haas exit

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