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Haas’ 2023 driver pairing is the last piece of the F1 driver market puzzle that still needs to be solved – and according to team principal Guenther Steiner, the solution will be completed before the 2022 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
While Kevin Magnussen – who had just scored himself a sensational maiden pole in qualifying in Sao Paulo – was confirmed to stay, the identity of his team-mate was less clear. It is widely believed that incumbent Mick Schumacher will compete for a seat with veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who last drove a full F1 season in 2019.
But Steiner confirmed ahead of Saturday’s game at Interlagos that a decision has been made on who will play for the team in 2023 and will be announced next week.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Steiner replied when asked if the team had already selected Magnussen’s 2023 partner. “We’re just sorting out the details [about] How we’re going to do what we’re going to do.
“Looking forward to an announcement sometime next week,” Steiner added. “I’m not going to tell you that day because then everyone will be waiting for that day – but it will come next week.”
Schumacher’s qualifying 20th and last place for Saturday’s Sprint didn’t help his situation, when his team-mate took the first pole position that day. Steiner looked back on the German’s second season in F1, saying he had “a little bit of ups and downs”, adding: “But I really felt bad for him yesterday because he did what he did in Q1 before leaving. Good to go out.
“The first two runs were really good and then on dry tyres he just couldn’t feel it. When someone passed him on his outer lap he lost a bit of temperature and then couldn’t get it back and then lost a bit of confidence and started to slide , that’s what’s happening – it just didn’t work for him yesterday.
“But other than that, throughout the season, we knew he had really good moments and really bad moments. It was an ups and downs…I think he’s become more consistent, he’s obviously improved. It’s been a very tough start to the season. , when he was thrown into the abyss with a better car and a really good teammate, it was kind of like ‘well, this is really Formula 1’. But then he recovered and got better already.”
Meanwhile, rumours linking Hulkenberg to Haas are also expanding, with Aston Martin last week announcing that Stoffel Vandoorne will be their replacement driver for 2023 (currently held by Hulkenberg). the position).
Driver’s market: Who will partner Magnussen at Haas next season?
Speaking at Interlagos earlier in the day, Aston Martin’s performance director Tom McCullough paid tribute to the “group show” Hulkenberg, who has made two “super-subs” for the team at this year’s competition. “Appears. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Jackpot.
“He’s a very talented, naturally gifted driver,” McCullough said. “You put him in a position to qualify and race and ask him to get the most out of the car, no matter what car he drives, he’s very good at doing it… He’s top-notch, he’s talented, He’s got solid experience, which helps him jump into the car and drive fast.”
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