Gunther Steiner and Gene Haas
Italian Grand Prix 2014
c/o James Moy Photography
Gene Haas, it seems, is doing pretty much everything right. A methodical approach to entering the Piranha pool that is Formula 1 has seen him strike up key alliances and build the solid foundations upon which, finally and unlike the last four teams granted a license, we may see a new team enter the sport with a fighting chance of scoring points.
But all of this hard work and disciplined enterprise comes to naught without the soft fleshy bit of the equation between the pedals and the engine being as quick and reliable as the mechanical parts. So who will Gene Haas choose to drive his cars, and why won’t it be Danica Patrick?
Danica Patrick
c/o http://www.danicapatrick.com
Well, let’s start with Patrick. Haas has insinuated, again, that Patrick isn’t off the table for consideration but if we are being entirely realistic we have got to view this as simple marketing speak. Linking Patrick, who races for Gene Haas’ NASCAR team, with an F1 seat creates headlines and publicity. But that’s all it is. Patrick herself has ruled out making the switch, and at 33 years old she is well past the age at which an F1 debut would be competitively conceivable.
Many will argue that Danica Patrick proved she could hold her own against the boys when she raced single-seaters, her 115 races in IRL / Indycar netting her one pole position and seven podiums. But it is her sole victory at Motegi in 2008, which is raised aloft as the burning beacon of irrefutable evidence that she has, or at least had, what it takes to race alongside the Hamiltons, Alonsos and Vettels of this world. The reality, however, is that she does not.
Danica Patrick can be quick on her day, but her day doesn’t come around nearly often enough. Those inconsistent flashes of speed have at least provided some sporting foundation upon which to base her lucrative marketing deals… but an F1 driver she is not. She wouldn’t have stacked up a decade ago when, with age and momentum on her side, Honda was interested in testing her. A decade older and four years of being beaten up on a NASCAR track have not made her any more suitable for consideration among the world’s supposed best.
Danica Patrick
c/o http://www.danicapatrick.com
Haas himself, when asked by Reuters about the possibility, made it clear it was simply a case of not ruling anything out, and furthermore stated that any such move for Patrick away from his NASCAR team might only be considered “if the right sponsor came along.” The reason this is even a thought is because she has just been dropped by her long-time backer Go Daddy. Any positive Danica headlines are good headlines at the moment, as she aims to find herself a backer that will ensure she can continue racing something, somewhere.
Will Haas F1 give her a test in one of its cars? It’s not out of the realms of possibility and, again, would be a tremendous headline grabber. But Haas needs all the testing it can get, and wasting what little track time it will have to prepare for its debut Formula 1 campaign on a PR gimmick simply doesn’t fit in with the team’s thus far professional and careful approach. So I think we can rule out Danica Patrick. But who could we rule in? Back in September last year I spoke to Gene Haas on this very topic, and he had a few interesting suggestions on drivers.
Kurt Busch
c/o http://www.kurtbusch.com
“Everybody I talk to is interested,” he said. “I was talking to Kurt Busch last week. He was interested. He said if he wins the NASCAR championship, if could he have a ride in one. I said “For sure!” if he wins the championship.” “I said he can get in the car! I tell you, an American driver in a Formula 1 car in Europe, that would just knock it out of the ball park. I’ll give it to you: Kurt Busch could drive one of these cars.”
Of course Busch didn’t win the title and has had to move past his own personal demons over the past few months, and at 36 he’s even older than Patrick. While his run to sixth at the Indy 500 last year on that crazy day where he competed in the 500 and also the Coca Cola 600 where he suffered a blown engine, was impressive, a move to single seaters may be a little out of the question.
But, as Haas has stated time and again, the big story will of course come if the team signs an American driver.
But who could realistically step across? Tony Stewart runs a NASCAR team with Gene Haas. He conducted a seat swap with Lewis Hamilton in the Brit’s McLaren days via their mutual sponsorship at the time from ExxonMobil, and hugely enjoyed the experience. But hearing the jokes about how the McLaren boys had to fit him into the car with a crowbar and a tub of grease tells you all you need to know. He’s a mega talent. A huge star. But there’s just a bit too much of Tony Stewart for modern F1.
Oof. Jeff Gordon makes Brad Keselowski look like Sebastian Vettel
http://www.twitter.com
Here’s one from leftfield while we’re looking at NASCAR… Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champ and 2010 Nationwide champ. He’s fast, but possibly a bit too old. Plus he looks far too much like Sebastian Vettel when he’s being punched in the face.
Two NASCAR drivers who I think could cut the mustard, however, are Joey Logano and Kyle Larson. They’re both superbly quick and of a good age to make the jump, but the chances of either of these guys wanting to move are slim.
Looking away from NASCAR and to the more realistic potential avenue that is Indycar, two names immediately crop up.
Josef Newgarden
c/o http://www.indycar.com
Currently seventh in the standings, 24 year old Josef Newgarden won his first Indycar race earlier this season with a tenacious drive at Barber Motorsports Park in the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, and is seen by many in Indycar as America’s great open-wheel hope. Young, fast and hugely likeable, Josef competed against the likes of Esteban Gutierrez back in the very first season of GP3 in 2010, taking a pole position (admittedly reverse grid) in a year where the Carlin team he drove for were nowhere near the powerhouse in the championship that they have become over recent years. He returned to America in 2011 and was duly crowned Indy Lights champion later that year, gaining promotion to Indycar in 2012.
I’ve got to say I like Josef and his prospects very much, and think he would be a great fit for both Haas and Formula 1.
Graham Rahal
c/o http://www.indycar.com
Then you’ve got 26 year old Graham Rahal who is seemingly in the form of his life right now, sitting fifth in the championship off the back of two podiums in the past two races. Rahal has sometimes struggled against the weight of expectation and is without an Indycar victory since his rookie season in 2008. But he is fast and he does hold that all important surname that so connects with open-wheel fans Stateside. And, let’s not forget, Bobby Rahal ran the Jaguar F1 team and Gunther Steiner worked there. Admittedly at different times. It’s at the very least a connection.
Given age and momentum, they’re the only Americans I could see wanting to make the move.
Ryan Hunter-Reay is an Indycar champion and an all-American posterboy. But would he want to risk his reputation on a switch? Would he want to uproot his young family? I can’t see it.
Conor Daly has all but given up on his F1 dream after budget shortfalls saw him race only part-time in GP2 last season after a great run to the top three in GP3 the year before. He has tested for Force India and is no slouch. Great fun and the kind of driver who just lights up when you put a camera on him, I feel his focus now however is on a career in America. Which is a shame.
I don’t see Marco Andretti moving across. His Grandfather Mario is still regarded by most as one of the greatest racing drivers who ever lived. Ironically, while seen as a flop in F1 terms, his son Michael is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indycar drivers of all time, certainly of his generation. But Michael was burnt by his F1 experience at McLaren in 1993 and Marco’s best opportunity to switch came a decade ago. I remember there was excited talk about him potentially testing GP2 back in 2005 / 2006 and possibly even running an F1 test for Honda, but that was quickly shot down by his father. Marco’s got it good in Indycar. He has no reason to move.
The Mayor of Hinchtown
c/o http://www.indycar.com
James Hinchcliffe, while not American, would however be a great selection. His Canadian passport does at least give him points as a North American, and his racecraft, sublime talent and sparkling personality make him, to my mind, one of this generation’s greatest lost potential F1 talents. I’d love to see James make the move.
Other than that? Simona de Silvestro impressed Sauber when she tested for them at Fiorano, with mutterings from the boys at the time that they’d have replaced Sutil with her there and then. As one of six drivers promised the Sauber race seat for 2015, however, it was not to be. Although Swiss, she has a huge following Stateside and being female has kept her very much in the recent focus of conversation in the F1 paddock.
The issue, of course, comes down to the need for the chosen driver to have a Superlicense and the problems brought about by the recent shifting of the regulation and points system required to be granted one. Under the new system, and from our list, only Ryan Hunter-Reay would qualify but he would need to amass 30 FIA points this season to still qualify next year. There is no reasonable expectation for the FIA to make any concessions for this new team, so Haas and Steiner’s selection may be diminished before it has even been drawn up, thanks to this irksome and gratuitous regulatory amendment. One hopes the ludicrous system is abandoned post haste.
Alexander Rossi
Belgian Grand Prix 2014
c/o James Moy Photography
But there is an American who does currently hold a Superlicense: the only one to do so. He sits third in the GP2 Series standings with two podiums from the opening two weekends of the season. He is fast, dependable and with a dry-Californian wit that makes him instantly likeable and media-friendly. Alexander Rossi could be the best hope America has of one of their own landing a plum ride with Haas in 2016. He has tested for BMW Sauber, Caterham and Marussia, and came very close to making his F1 debut both in Belgium and Russia last season.
Bar none, Alexander Rossi is the best American hope and I believe he would do a great job for Haas F1. \
But that’s just one seat. What of the other? Gene Haas has spoken of his desire to have an experienced driver in one of the seats, and so that limits us to those racing today, or from the past few seasons.
Might Adrian Sutil be under consideration? Twiddling his thumbs at the back of the Williams hospitality unit is not Adrian’s idea of fun, but a move for Sutil would, for me, show no sign of ambition from Haas. It’s the equivalent of Caterham signing Jarno Trulli. His day is done and his star has waned.
Ricciardo and Bottas are both out of contract for 2016
c/o James Moy Photography
If Haas wanted to make an immediate impact, it could go after a big name. And two of them are out of contract at the end of this year. Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo are both without a contract for 2016. Admittedly, stepping to Haas would require an unbelievably bold leap of faith, but might they be willing to do so for a longer-term objective? Would Bottas leave Williams and nigh on guaranteed points, potential podiums and possible wins, for a start-up? Would Ricciardo leave a four-time world championship winning team, admittedly one with a horrible engine and zero chance of winning a bake sale, let alone an F1 race in 2015, for a newcomer?
The answer, you’d have to assume for both drivers, would be no.
But what if the long term objective wasn’t Haas? What if the end game for a Bottas or a Ricciardo, was the biggest name in motorsport?
One of the key alignments that Gene Haas has made has been with Scuderia Ferrari. For the most part, whichever parts can be shared under the regulations, Haas will bring in from Maranello. This is a serious deal, and while not quite making Haas a Ferrari “B Team”, it is expected that it won’t be far off.
Bottas and Ricciardo are on the market, but if Ferrari sticks with Kimi Raikkonen for another season into 2016, it risks losing both of these massive talents. So could it sign one of them, and put them in a holding pattern at Haas? Might it sign both, and utilise its relationship with both Sauber and Haas to orchestrate an even larger holding pattern across the paddock? We know that Jules Bianchi had signed to race for Sauber in 2015, ironically and tragically on that very Japanese Grand Prix weekend that led to his horrific accident.
Ferrari’s use of affiliated teams to house its stable of drivers is nothing new.
Valtteri Bottas’ manager, Didier Cotton, told me in Spain that the Finn has signed no pre-contract with Ferrari, and that until the Scuderia decides what it is doing with Kimi Raikkonen, any talk about pre-contracts or anything else are premature. Ferrari doesn’t (yet) have a seat available. But, as is the way in Formula 1, everyone is always talking to everyone. Possibilities of seats opening up at any moment mean that managers have to be all eyes, all ears, and all knowing. If Bottas and Ricciardo truly are on the market, their signatures will be two of the most coveted in the sport.
Gutierrez in talks with Haas
Spanish Grand Prix 2015
c/o James Moy Photography
What, we might also ask, of Ferrari’s two reserve / test drivers and young, recent F1 competitors Jean-Eric Vergne and Esteban Gutierrez? While Vergne currently races in Formula E for Andretti Autosport and has expressed his desire to move Stateside and get a seat in Indycar, Gutierrez has a purely F1 focus. Ever since he signed for Ferrari, he has been very clear but also very cryptic in his reasons, stating time and again that he has a very clear objective and the team has given him assurances that they will be delivered upon. Gutierrez is a racer. In his junior career, I’d go as far as to say he was one of the most impressive I ever saw. I dubbed him “The Chosen One,” so breathtaking were his skills.
I wonder, and I have done ever since he signed the Ferrari deal, whether he will be farmed out to Haas in 2016, to help the team as an experienced F1 driver with Ferrari’s backing and blessing. It certainly stacks up far more convincingly than putting Valtteri Bottas at the team to keep him warm for a seat at the Scuderia.
Rossi and Gutierrez were team-mates at ART’s GP3 team in 2010
c/o GP3 Series
Could that, then, be the Haas F1 line-up? Esteban Gutierrez and Alexander Rossi. Both from the North American continent. Both fast. Both dependable.
And they both despise each other.
And not just a regular, faint dislike of the other. This is genuine, pure, unbridled hatred, stemming from a miserable year as GP3 team-mates in 2010.
Does Haas need that kind of aggravation? Or is it just the kind of thing that spurs two young charges on to produce the form of their lives?
The great thing about this is that, right now, nobody knows who is on Haas and Steiner’s list. As we reach the part of the season where contracts start to be negotiated, and the 2016 line-ups start to be debated, who races for F1’s newest outfit could be one of the most intriguing stories of all.
EDIT: I’m not going to pretend I originally included this, but I absolutely meant to… So as a post script…
Nico Hulkenberg. Might Haas wish to have a driver as highly regarded and experienced as the German? Might the motivation of a new team give Nico back an element of the spark that the Force India frustrations this year have taken away? Might taking on Hulkenberg, with his tall frame, also be perfect for the team owing to his similar height to Alexander Rossi?
Again… just a thought…
The Buxton Blog 
I’d like to see Rossi get a shot at it, but is the talent there? Him bouncing from team to team the last few years makes me wonder.
His deal with Caterham was with Fernandes. When Tony left, Rossi had no backer at the squad and was immediately snapped up by Marussia. So, at the same time, he lost his GP2 seat with Caterham. Now he’s back full-time with Racing Engineering and doing really rather well.
Rossi is really the only American driver that should be considered at this point. The IRL is widely viewed as a joke here in the US and certainly not a worthwhile training ground for drivers looking to jump all the way to F1. Danica is strictly a marketing gimmick. I really see no other American than Rossi that deserves a chance at the ride.
I don’t think your view of IndyCar being a joke is accurate or all that widely held. There are several drivers currently in IndyCar who wouldn’t be out of place in F1 at all, such as Will Power, Dixon, or RHR. If I was a team owner deciding who my driver was going to be purely on talent and not how much $$$ they were bringing, I’d much prefer one of the three I just mentioned over someone like Sutil or Marcus Ericsson.
I’d love to see Newgarden get a shot at F1, but that isn’t going to happened unless he wins more races and finishes in the top 4 of the IndyCar standings for a couple of season. My ideal Haas line-up that actually has a chance of happening is JEV and Rossi.
Considered a joke by who? You? IndyCar, it’s not even called IRL anymore, has a lot of talented drivers.
Great overview of potential Haas drivers. The politics and personalities of F1 sure make it interesting to watch…from afar! Thanks, Will.
very thorough breakdown, will. thanks for bringing it all into focus. you mentioned kimi but what do you think of him being the one to move to hass if ferrari don’t resign him and bottas takes his seat? remember kimi ran a few races in the truck series and one in the nationwide after rallying and made it known he wanted to return one day to american racing. well an american team F1 team would be even better. and we all know how vast and loyal the iceman’s fanbase is, especially in asia as i’m certain haas is aware. (i also read recently that both vivian and nico want to live in the usa one day, but i think that’s a long shot). raikkonen and rossi would be a wonderful pairing.
If Kimi hasn’t got the hunger for it at Ferrari, he won’t have at Haas.
I like your idea about Hulkenberg. In any event, they are going to need a driver with experience with the chassis, tracks, and particularly the engine.
I am remembering the Penske team arriving on the scene in 74 and 75 and trying to figure out the setups for all of these tracks they were seeing for the first time.
Here in the States, much talk about Danica Patrick wanting to settle down and have children. Maybe list her as a reserve driver or one of the many other categories used in F1 nowadays. Like everybody else says, publicity only.
If you are going to go that way, hire Simona. Man, she was lucky to avoid that Sauber mess last year and looks good in the Indy races this year.
Nice post, Will!
One thing that you’ve brought up and I’ve heard before is about drivers being too old for F1 and I’ve always been curious to hear the thought process behind that. The older drivers are the ones dominating in IndyCar which with the lack of power steering would seem to require more pure physical stamina. David Coulthard just came out with his fixes for F1 and part of that was to make the cars physically demanding to drive again. Instead modern F1 seems to be more about managing the car and I would think the additional experience would be helpful.
Rossi and Button is my bet
I had thoughts of Button as well, the experience alone makes it worth it if Rossi is to be the second driver in that pairing.
JB has a two year deal with McLaren to the end of 2016.
tis only a contract
An American F1 team needs an (at least one) American driver and Rossi is the logical choice. His pace this season in GP2 is no fluke. He is quick, talented, personable, and in my eyes has already proven himself. I really hope Haas gives him the opportunity. The Hulk is a massive talent and it would be awesome to see him drive for Haas. I’m already calling for Bottas at Ferrari next year. Hmmm, maybe Ricciardo will move to Williams?
Van De Garde had a deal too. My guess is if the Honda makes any decent progress this year Button will be gone, if it’s still a dog they’ll keep him.
Jack Harvey? Moved stateside with RSF and quick as anybody…l
Out of left field here: Jonathan Summerton? I guess he just never had the sponsorship to make big things happen, and dropped off the radar. Quick, though.
Funny you should mention Jonathan…
Hmmm..now there’s an interesting thought. Didn’t I hear somewhere that he may under consideration for someone’s plan at Le Mans?
Will: Oh? What an interestingly cryptic response.
f1fan1: Looking it up, it seems he’s going to be doing some kind of TV show or something that is a contest to land a ride at Le Mans. I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him since A1GP, but he was quite impressive there, and quite young at that time.
Will’s remark about the possibility of Hulkenberg & Rahal makes me remember those two banging wheels at Laguna Seca in the wet. That was my first time seeing Rahal race. Though ultimately he spun out, all were impressed with him. I passed by the Rahal family after the race and they were all smiles about his effort.
Guttierez and Hulk together again at a US team? Sounds brilliant! Thanks so much for your excellent journalism and contributions to Reddit F1! Hope to maybe meet you in Austin this year!
I know it’s not going to happen but I’d love Conor Daly and Jev for Haas. I think the points thing for the super licence has some merit but when you still need a load of cash for gp2/gp3 etc. It’s not really a great system
Great write up, Will. Saw this posted to /r/formula1 and am glad I clicked over.
Cheers.
PS. Do you really think Rossi has a credible chance? I hope so. And not just b/c I’m a nationalist.
What about Massa? Still competitive, gives the team some experience.
Compelling stuff, Will. Hit the nail on the head as always. Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. Should be a Super Silly Season!
I would absolutely love to see Rossi at Haas. My son and I had the good fortune to run into Alex while shopping in Austin last fall, a couple of days before the USGP. Not only is he a talented driver, he’s a kind young man who would be a fantastic ambassador for the sport here in the U.S.
Will, what was it about Gutierrez that impressed you so much? I only saw bits of him in GP2 2012, but in 2013 and 2014 he was utterly terrible in qualifying, rarely making it out of Q1. His race craft seemed fine, never really stood out, but your time in GP2 sure gives your comment all the credibility I need.
What was it that I missed in him?
I have watched enough Indy Racing that I cringe at the thought of any of them in Formula 1, they are that unskilled. Of course WB has to mention them since they are on the network that pays the bills. Instead, I think Ricky or Jordan Taylor from TUDOR would be worth testing. But they aren’t on NBCSN.
Or maybe it’s because Gene said he’d like to run an American, and the best US single seater championship is Indycar. This is an independent blog.
I’m pulling for Rossi. I said this same thing over on Jalopnik that Haas needs at least one guy from ‘Murica to get the fans over here on board because I think he’s going to have a hard time winning over the European fans. Also I could see Riccardo making a move over stateside if RBR doesn’t get their act together this year. He’s a NASCAR fan from everything I see and hear (Number 3?) and he’d play well to an audience here in the states on that alone.
For a new team to take two drivers who hate each other, would be a absolute disaster. It would be best to have two drivers that can work together. I do not see gutierrez and rossi working. Anyway gutierrez’s previous years in f1 were pretty medicore, so why would they go for someone like him when there is someone like vergne, who has said that he is still focused on f1.
You know what Will, I think this is one of the first articles/blogs that has pointed out that Ricciardo could be on the move and that Ferrari may be interested. This is something that I thought could be a perfect marriage (unless there’s a Vettel veto), but everyone seems more fixated on Bottas. This surprises me as many consider that the 2014 Williams was faster than the Red Bull, yet Ricciardo pulled off more impressive results. Perhaps people assumed he would be indebted to Red Bull??
Would love to see a Bottas and Rossi lineup in Haas F1. Those two drivers would be the perfect cornerstone drivers to carry the team from expansion team to hopefully a competitive outfit four or five years from now. Too bad that Bottas is smart and won’t downgrade and take a chance on a rookie team. Nico Hulkenburg would be a great and an experienced choice to be paired alongside Alexander Rossi. It’s too bad that Hulkenburg has rotted himself in uncompetitive rides in his F1 career. Should’ve been Ferrari’s newest driver instead either Kimi or Sebastian Vettel.
Regardless of who drives, I eagerly await the post-race Downfall parodies telling der Furhrer about Steiner’s faults.
Reblogged this on Learning the Formula.
Does Rossi not need the min points to get a Superlicense? (which he can realistically get from GP2 in 2015). He has never started an F1 race so wouldn’t be automatically eligible?