Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed that he “would like” an American driver to race for the team, and has even earmarked a potential move for Williams rookie Logan Sargeant.
Despite having joined the Formula 1 grid in 2015, the American team have never had a driver from their home country, with Steiner believing that there isn’t currently an American driver that has enough experience.
Experience is seemingly the key for Haas, who’s line-up for 2023 boasts an impressive 322 Grand Prix starts between them.
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg are two exceptionally experienced drivers, who will likely bring some consistency to the team, something they haven’t had the last couple of years by having at least one young driver.
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Once an American driver gains some experience, though, then Haas may well make their move, with Sargeant likely to be the first to grab Haas’ attention.
“Of course I would like to see an American driver with us,” Steiner said to American broadcaster KVUE.
“I think what we need to see is the development of an American driver, which is very difficult.
“We had the last two years ago with two rookies, last year with one inexperienced driver. And we as a team are still very young.
“And for us at the moment there is more performance to be gained for the team to make it better, to get ready, because at the moment there is no American driver with experience in F1. Therefore, we decided not to take an American again.”
Given how popular F1 is becoming in the United States, an American driver for Haas would do wonders for their sales, especially given that from 2023 onwards there will be three races in the country.
One would like to think that Haas would want to use an American driver before Andretti likely join the sport in 2026, with Mario Andretti having already suggested that IndyCar driver Colton Herta would be part of their plans.
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With that in mind, Sargeant looks like Haas’ best bet for a future experienced American driver, something Steiner is seemingly very open to.
“There is now an American driver who is going to gain experience and he needs all the support he can get at the moment,” said Steiner. “And I don’t think at the moment it’s there.
“So hopefully it comes, because I wish that he makes experience and then once he has made experience, he comes to us, the American team. How about that?”