Haas F1 team boss Gunther Steiner confirmed he is in talks with Nico Hulkenberg for a spot in 2023.
“I talked to him,” Gunther Steiner told RTL. “I’ve known Nico for a long time. I know him better than Daniel (Ricciardo).”
“We are talking about it, but nothing has been decided yet.”
It appears that Daniel Ricciardo is heading towards a “hiatus” from F1 racing in 2023 rather than accepting an offer to negotiate with the Haas F1 team.
Gunther Steiner said in September that he had sent a “text message” to 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo in trouble. Ricciardo’s final year of McLaren’s contract was taken over as the team preferred to sign rookie Oscar Piastri.
Gunther Steiner has suggested that Daniel Ricciardo is not interested in becoming Kevin Magnussen’s teammate in 2023.
“If he’s interested in us, don’t be shy about calling me,” Gunther Steiner told The Associated Press.
“I’m not going to hunt him down.”
“I want you to decide for yourself what you want to do before someone gets in your way. I think he’s a good driver and I don’t know how he ended up in this situation. I think he has to be honest with himself and decide what to do.”
“For us it will be a great success. Last year he was the winner of the race. I evaluate him as a driver, but I don’t understand why he doesn’t perform now.”
“This is what he understands.”
Haas F1 team owner Gene Haas has warned that Mick Schumacher will have to score points in the final four races of the season, but Gunther Steiner still believes Schumacher will be in place for 2023. He said he’s a candidate.
“To be honest, it’s still 50/50,” Gunther Steiner told German broadcaster ntv.
“We will not make a decision between Austin and Mexico just because we don’t have time. Next time it will be after Mexico because we have more time to face it.”
Gutan Steiner denied that the Haas F1 team is putting undue pressure on young Mick Schumacher.
“As an athlete, he is under constant pressure. He knows he has to perform. We are open about it,” said Gunther Steiner.
“The pressure is not a bad thing, because with the pressure comes the opportunity and I think I can handle it well.”
“We came back from Japan on the same plane and he was in a really good mood. He grew up in a racing family and he knows what it is. It’s part of his job.”
As for Daniel Ricciardo, most insiders believe he has already decided to become the reserve driver of the Mercedes F1 team for 2023.
“The more time passes, the more I feel I need it,” said Daniel Ricciardo when asked to take a “break” from racing in 2023.
“There is really nothing in the form of opportunities for next year. Partly we want to restore the hiatus a bit and part of it is 2024 and there may be better opportunities.”
Category: F1 / Hearth / Nico Hulkenberg / Daniele Ricardo / Mick Schumacher
