Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has not yet opened negotiations with Mick Schumacher about keeping him around for the 2023 season.
Schumacher is yet to score a point since his arrival into Formula 1 last season, and he has now gone 31 race entries without registering a top 10 finish.
The 23-year-old has also cost Haas over a million dollars’ worth of damage through massive crashes in Saudi Arabia and Monaco, both of which are working against the $140 million budget this year which, due to inflation, is already relatively thin for everyone.
However, the young German has shown glimpses of the exceptional talent that won him the 2022 Formula 2 title, and he has out-qualified returning team-mate Kevin Magnussen twice out-performing him five times in the opening nine rounds of the year in race trim.
But until he gets points and a good run of form, there is expected to be pressure on the Ferrari academy racer, so the sooner he can get into the top 10, the better.
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As for next year, Steiner, who has not held back in his criticism of the mistakes his driver has made, does not know what next year holds for Schumacher.
“We have not yet discussed the future, we are trying to help him unlock, to realize this blessed first point,” he said, before explaining why things have not gone to plan this season.
“He has a lot of pressure on him, everyone expected him to make the same leap in his second year that he had shown in the minor formulas,” added Steiner.
“There wasn’t, but for a specific reason: these cars are not an evolution of last year’s, he drives a completely new car and even the most experienced pilots have struggled to adapt.
“The incidents in Saudi Arabia and Monaco also took away his confidence, triggering a negative spiral.
“Among other things, the calendar does not help him because Baku and Canada are tracks that do not forgive, if you make a mistake you do great damage.
“And logically, the last thing Mick wants to do now is crash.”
Magnussen has registered 15 points so far in 2022, and he returned to the team having taken a year out to race in IMSA last year.
The Italian boss believes the reintroduction of the Dane has made life more challenging for Schumacher, but seeing the ability and nuances of Magnussen will also help the German develop.
“Yes and no, because having Kevin is also an advantage,” explained Steiner when asked if having Magnussen’s return was a blessing or a headache.
“Had he not arrived, Mick would not know what he is missing so instead you know where you have to work, you can compare the data, talk to your team-mate.
“You learn and settle down. On the other hand, if you have a partner who is as strong as you are, you have the excuse of the wrong car.”
Schumacher was running in the points in Canada last time out having qualified sixth behind Magnussen in fifth, but an engine failure put pay to his running.