American F1 team has no interest in American drivers (2nd Update)
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| Look no further than the man on the left, Guenter Steiner, to understand why an American driver will never be chosen by the American team |
| Mike Mercurio/AR1.com |
This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Gene Haas told AR1.com's Pete McCole who was at today's press conference to announce Romain Grosjean as the first driver, why he did not hire American Alexander Rossi.
"I think it came down to rookie team, rookie driver. I think that combination wouldn't work – we're as rookie as he is. He seems like a very good driver, and I think if he had had more Formula 1 experience, he certainly would have been higher up on our list.
"I think Romain is still aggressive, I think he wants to solidify his career, and I would think that in Formula 1, this would probably be his best years. We think he's aggressive, we think he's smart, he's got the right driving style, he's got current experience – so those kind of really fell in his favor."
That does not explain why Alexander Rossi could not be the team's 2nd driver. He is a proven multi-race winner in GP2, has driven all the tracks and in his first two F1 starts is already beating his more experienced Manor Marussia teammate. Word is that team boss Guenter Steiner is anti-American and that is the real story behind why Rossi was not chosen.
08/12/15
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| Jean-Eric Vergne |
Former Toro Rosso racer and current Ferrari test driver Jean-Eric Vergne believes he is in with a chance of racing for the new Haas F1 team next year, despite signing to race for DS Virgin in FIA Formula E.
The 25-year-old Frenchman, who raced for three years in Red Bull’s F1 junior team, hopes to use his Ferrari links to return to the Grand Prix grid.
Vergne’s main competition is fellow Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez, who has a strong commercial package from Mexico behind him, and the US-based team’s top target, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg.
“There are there of us, for two seats," Vergne told Motorsport.com. “Let's say there is a rather good chance for me to end up with Haas. Then, as far as Formula E is concerned, that's too early to talk about it.
“If F1 comes, there will be two clashes. It's way too early to say how that will go. I hope to have that kind of problem to sort out, that would be a good one to have!
“But today, I am focused on Formula E, and very much as well on my work with Ferrari, which of course pays off to land in the Haas team."
Team boss Gene Haas has told Motorsport.com that he has two other drivers also under consideration, besides those mentioned. motorsport.com
08/01/15 (GMM) A trio of drivers has emerged at the top of the shortlist to race for the new F1 team Haas in 2016.
As Haas Factory Outlet Portugal's new headquarters was inaugurated near Oporto, the outfit's Californian founder Gene Haas confirmed that Jean-Eric Vergne, Esteban Gutierrez and Nico Hulkenberg have all been linked with the two available race seats.
"We have a list of drivers in which we are interested in, but in the next few months there will be many moves in the (existing) teams' lineups and we will wait to see who is interested in the project we are developing," he said.
As for the reports specifically mentioning Vergne, Gutierrez and Hulkenberg, Haas added: "Two of them are reserve drivers from Ferrari, so they are certainly a possibility.
"As far as the other name that you mention, he is a driver from another team, so the possibility of him driving for us depends of his position with his team.
"Anybody who is driving in a formula one team right now, certainly, is someone that we would be interested in, if he becomes available," said Haas.