“We don’t think any Americans are qualified to race in Formula 1,” Alexander Rossi reveals how Haas rejected him for the driver’s seat


“We don’t think any Americans are qualified to race in Formula 1,” Alexander Rossi reveals how Haas rejected him for the driver’s seat

Haas

The world of Formula 1 is hungry to see the next American driver join the grid. In recent time the popularity for the sport has grown in massive numbers in the United States. The major star behind the spurt in viewership in America is the Netflix series, Drive To Survive. Such high levels of interest was witnessed in the previous season race out in Austin. The event was sold out with a record breaking attendance in the Grand Prix. All of this translates into more sponsors being attracted towards the sport, specifically backing American driver names.

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One of the American driver who has prior Formula 1 experience is Alexander Rossi. The driver was the last American to race in Formula 1 having made five starts for the Manor Marussia team in 2015. The 2016 year saw the debut of the sole American team on the grid, Haas. It was highly logical for an American team to recruit a driver of same nationality, but that just wasn’t meant to be for Rossi. The driver revealed that the Haas was clear on its stance that there was no seat for him.

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Alexander Rossi’s Formula 1 Dream Crushed By Haas

Haas debut in 2016

After departing from Formula 1 in 2015, Alexander Rossi made the move to IndyCar where he won at the 2016 Indianapolis 500. The American driver revealed his conversation with Haas in 2015 by sayingThere were some conversations and then, in Monza of 2015, without mincing any words, it was basically, from management, ‘We are not interested in you’. We don’t think any Americans are qualified to race in Formula 1 at this point and you are best to go off and go your own way.”

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Rossi further expressed his disappointment about departure from Formula 1 saying “There is no violin that I look for, it’s just a part of the sport and ultimately the thing that…if I had to say I had a problem with something, it is purely just that there are commitments and there were things that were said and done with Haas that ultimately didn’t happen for one reason or another. That is the disenchanting thing about it but that is the way that life goes and the way life works.”

The driver concluded by pointing out how Haas has never recruited an American despite its roots originating from that country. Rossi also added that how American drivers get recognition in IndyCar unlike Formula 1. However, it just seems like a matter of time before we see an American driver on the grid in this ever growing sport.

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