Haas have enjoyed a better year this year than 2021, with the American team sitting in the midfield and regularly challenging for the final points position, as opposed to making up the final two finishers at almost every race last year.
The team are reportedly looking to shake things up for next season, with Mick Schumacher fighting what seems to be an uphill battle to keep his seat for next year.
The young German has been told that he needs to score some points before the end of the season if he wants to stand a chance of racing in F1 next year, however this is proving difficult with many blaming the team for his poor results.
This weekend in Austin, Schumacher looked set for points before damage to his car saw him lose pace and a potentially unnecessary pit stop saw him drop out of the points scoring positions.
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“I had the feeling that I could have stayed out,” said Schumacher after the race, with his teammate Kevin Magnussen doing exactly that and finishing in the points.
Team principal Guenther Steiner was unwilling to comment on suggestions that Schumacher’s shortcoming are partially the fault of the team, perhaps hinting that the strategy affected the German’s race potential.
The 23-year-old’s uncle and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has suggested that keeping Mick around for 2023 is a no brainer, despite Haas reportedly favouring bringing Nico Hulkenberg back onto the grid.
“Mick has done everything he has to do to continue driving for Haas in 2023,” he suggested.
“If Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner think about it properly they will also realise that there is no alternative to Mick.
“Ricciardo won’t be there and Nico Hulkenberg is more likely to be on his way towards retirement than really tearing up the tracks again.”
Schumacher has been notably not himself since the rumours began, with former driver Timo Glock saying that Haas seem to have already made up their mind, giving the German targets to hit that will not even make a difference.
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“The hurdle is very high for him at the moment, not because he doesn’t perform well, but because Haas has different ideas internally,” suggested Glock.
“I’m not sure to what extent a decision may have already been made, but if you read between the lines you can maybe see what Haas is going to do.”
Schumacher has reportedly already held talks with Audi for a 2026 race seat, however the youngster’s chances will surely be hampered should be not race in F1 until Audi enter the sport.