Gunther Steiner has been straightforward in asserting that the idea of replacing the current Haas team of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for 2024 didn’t enter his thoughts.
Recently, F1 commentator Marc Surer proposed that Hulkenberg’s commendable re-entry into Formula 1 this year is “ruining” Magnussen’s professional trajectory.
Yet, both racers have been confirmed for the subsequent season.
“I think we have the best drivers we can get at the moment,” Steiner voiced during a session at Zandvoort, “when you consider our finances and how attractive our car is.
“So I never talked to anyone.”
While some drivers did express an “interest” in competing for Haas in the future, Steiner’s attention is predominantly on addressing the evident performance challenges of the car.
“If you look at the opportunities, there are not many without risk, and I don’t want to take risks at the moment,” he conveyed. “Right now we want stability.
“We have control over one part of the team with the drivers now. Now we have to work on the car and get that part fixed as well.
“A year ago the drivers were a concern,” Steiner reflected, referring to his decision to part with Mick Schumacher at the close of 2023. “This year they are not and next year they are not a concern.”
Yet, some in the community are taken aback that Magnussen, at 30 years old, remains in the lineup despite Hulkenberg, having returned to F1, consistently showing superior performance.
“With Kevin, we now understand why he is struggling so much,” Steiner responded when queried about the issue. “The car is very difficult to drive and he has a little more trouble with it than Nico.
“That’s another reason why we decided to fix it. Big changes were never really planned and we also want to make sure Kevin can work on getting along better in peace, so that he didn’t always have to think about his contract.
“You also have to look at what the alternatives would have been,” he elaborated further. “In the end there was no reason to change anything.”
