A Grosjean-Hülkenberg duel for the second Haas seat

Initially, Guenther Steiner did not want to discuss his driver duo for next season during the Italian Grand Prix. In the end, the main team of the American team Haas will have devoted almost 10 minutes to the subject in the Monza paddock. 

Si Kevin Magnussen has a formal contract for next season, his teammate Romain Grosjean only started the 2019 campaign with an option for the next one.

Steiner said last weekend at Spa that three drivers were in the running to team up with the Dane: Grosjean naturally, but also Nico Hulkenberg, and Esteban Ocon. A few hours later, the last city was confirmed at Renault, de facto freeing the former winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Asked in the Milan suburbs to know if the fight over the second Haas seat was limited to a Grosjean-Hülkenberg duel, Steiner did not fail to be ironic. 

« If I gave you three names the week before and one of the three signs elsewhere in the meantime, how many do you think you have left? » said the Italian manager. 

So maintaining the status quo or changing era for the young team? Steiner is in any case satisfied with the choice offered to the US team with two solid drivers who have great experience in F1. 

« There is no urgency or feeling of desperation in the team, continued the former Jaguar manager. The transfer market was relatively calm this season. We all knew the data. It's very difficult to know what is the best option for the team. 

We know Romain well. He experienced this with the team. And we know what Hülkenberg’s level is. The question is what is best for the team to progress in the years to come. We are no longer analyzing the results of the drivers race after race ».

Steiner also suggested that Gene Haas, founder of the eponymous structure, and he might not completely share the same analysis of the situation at the moment.

« If the choice were obvious, it would be simple to decide, he added. We would have immediately agreed. We are not sure of the best course of action. Gene can tell me what to do. He has this privilege because he finances the team but he respects and appreciates my opinion. What we have now is not bad at all, but can we do better? And what risk are we willing to take to achieve this? »

Hülkenberg and Magnussen have a certain passion between them, which goes back to the delightful “ Suck my balls, darling » launched by the second to the first after on-track chicanery at the Hungaroring in 2017. Steiner reiterated that he saw no problem in bringing the two men together under the same roof. “ It can be a good thing to have internal rivalry, as long as emulation remains healthy. He concluded. 

Haas is expected to announce its 2020 driver duo between the Italian and Singapore Grands Prix.