Mick Schumacher doesn't believe Haas needs to call upon an experienced driver next season to help develop its new car as recently suggested by team boss Guenther Steiner.
In Sochi, Steiner alluded to the possibility of the US outfit taking advantage of the feedback of a senior driver to serve as a reference for Schumacher and teammate Nikita Mazepin, which the Haas boss feel is lacking this season.
But Schumacher insists Mazepin and himself are capable of "extracting the maximum" from Haas' car.
"Honestly, I think that we're pretty much getting the best out of the car," said the German, quoted by Motorsport.com.
"I don't think that there is a need for that. Especially if you know reserve drivers don't really get to drive much.
"Obviously we don't know how that would be, but again I think we're doing the best we can, and I think some qualifyings show that we are able to extract the maximum out of the car."
On the other side of the Haas garage, Mazepin said that he would welcome any outside help that would boost the team's performance, although such an initiative should come from the team, not the drivers.
"I don't think the drivers get to choose it, and I don't think it's correct," commented the Russian.
"But if I was to be asked, I think more help in the position where we're at now is good help. So I would be very open to any solution.
"But I think Guenther is a team boss and he ultimately needs to take these decisions. Not me. I'm too young for it."
Steiner said that he would assess his team's situation at the end of this year's campaign and will consider whether Haas "will need somebody" next season.
But the Italian admitted that tapping into the experience of a third driver also has its "pros and cons".
"We haven't looked for a reference driver yet and we are not looking," Steiner said. "That decision will be taken at the end of the year, if we feel that that would help us to get better.
"But obviously the issue then is, if you put a reference driver or an experienced driver in, the young guys lose track time because they cannot drive the car, as you are not free to do what you want these days with testing.
"So there's all pros and cons which you have to weigh up, and that's where I left it out there. There is the possibility, but there is not a decision taken."
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