Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has reassured that it will not be long before we learn about the future of Mick Schumacher.
The German had another year added to his deal last season when he made his debut alongside fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin, and he comprehensively out-performed the Russian.
Mazepin was then dropped ahead of 2022 amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so Kevin Magnussen was brought back having taken a year out last year to race in IMSA.
The Dane has out-qualified Schumacher nine times in 11 races this year as the 23-year-old has tried to find some consistency.
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This was not at all easy, as evidenced by two major crashes in Jeddah and Monaco that caused extensive damage and put him under immense pressure.
However, he has learned a lot from the wealth of experience he has to learn from in team-mate Magnussen, which has helped him to develop as a racing driver.
“Mick is very lucky to have a teammate like Kevin, he’s in a much better spot than last year,” said Steiner in the Red Bulletin ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Schumacher’s recent form has been tremendous, out-performing his team-mate in Silverstone and Spielberg and scoring points in the process, ending his barren spell of 31 race entries without a point.
The German’s current deal runs out at the end of this year, and Steiner has promised to make a decision soon regarding his driver’s future.
“Let’s wait for the two weeks and then a decision will be made,” he added.
Magnussen was signed onto a multi-year contract at Haas when he re-signed, and his five points finishes this season have fully justified his return.
Steiner confirmed that the Roskilde-born driver will be sticking around.
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“Yes, Kevin has a multi-year contract, we are making progress and have shown what we can do and logically we need the best possible drivers in our cars in order to finish in the points to get to the top,” said the Italian.
Haas head to the Circuit Paul Ricard for what could be the final time this weekend due to Formula 1’s expansion to other venues around the world, and the French Grand Prix does not have a contract for next season.
The South African Grand Prix is expected to be announced for next year as the sport looks set to return to Kyalami and, as much as Steiner would like to keep every circuit on the calendar, that is just is not possible in what will be a 24-race season next year.
“We would love to keep all the races but that can’t happen,” he told NTV.
“We have to make sure that things continue commercially and bring the sport to countries where it hasn’t been for a long time.”
There is also doubt over the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps, as that race too does not have a deal for next year.