Haas not ignoring 'obvious risks' to fielding rookie line-up in 2021

40

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner isn't overlooking the "obvious risks" associated with running two rookies in 2021, but the Italian also underlines the longer-term benefit for the US outfit of such a choice.

Haas has yet to nominate its drivers for next season, having eliminated both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean from its short list.

Despite two experienced and talented drivers - Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg - currently residing on the market, Haas is expected to field in 2021 Russian pay-driver Nikita Mazepin and Ferrari protégé Mick Schumacher.

Steiner says the team has not yet committed to a definitive choice, but it has weighed up the pros and cons of relying on a pair of rookies next year.

"We haven't decided to take two rookies, but I can easily talk you through my thoughts about two rookies," Steiner said.

"We discussed this, the risks, the opportunities with them. There is obviously a risk that two rookies, they have nobody experienced to look at [for] the data and stuff like this. They need to find out between them what is going on, and there is risk that it goes wrong.

"But the pros are you can put them in the direction you want to put them, and they grow with the team.

"Because it was never done, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work. For sure there is a risk that it doesn't work. I don't want to be ignorant to that one."

Since its F1 debut in 2016, Haas has always entrusted its cars to experienced drivers. Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez constituted the US outfit's first line-up, after which the Mexican was replaced in 2018 by Kevin Magnussen.

Read also: Steiner dismisses speculation over Herta joining Haas

A full-rookie lineup in 2021 would therefore represent a departure for Haas.

"We have done a few things different than other people," Steiner said.

"A few years ago I was asked, 'why do you keep Romain so long? Because nobody has kept anybody so long'.

"We don't need to do what other people did. We will do what we think is right, and if it works or not, we will be judged on it - nobody else.

"We take that risk and we take that opportunity. So if we would take two rookies, we have thought it through.

"We know the pros and we know the cons, and we will deal with that if we go that way."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.