Haas was always one to believe in the potential of rookies and invest in them in hopes of getting big returns. However, the team recently moved away from the philosophy with Guenther Steiner, firing both his inexperienced drivers – Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin – and opting for a more stable line up. While the team currently finds peace with the move, the performances of Oscar Piastri in 2023 might have led to a change of heart within the 58-year-old.
| Nico Hulkenberg preferred the Haas VF-23 before upgrades were introduced.
He will go back to the old specification.https://t.co/2XJ7TQn4cy
— formularacers (@formularacers_) November 13, 2023
Per a report from Formule1, Steiner believes investing in a rookie in 2025 might not be the worst idea, especially given how well Piastri drove throughout 2023.
“We saw that in 2023 with Oscar Piastri. Before that, we were all doubtful about rookies, but he came in and did well right away. So now you’re thinking, ‘Okay, it worked with Piastri, why wouldn’t it work for someone else too?'”
The McLaren driver showed significant improvements with each passing race and often put his teammate, Lando Norris, under immense pressure to hold on to his position in the race. He even took the challenge to Max Verstappen in Qatar, defeating the three-time reigning world champion fair and square and winning the sprint race. A further two podiums saw Piastri secure 97 points and P9 in the drivers’ championship.
Meanwhile, Haas did not enjoy similar success with their rookies. Mazepin and Schumacher led the charge for the American team in 2021 but put in one of the most dismal performances in the history of the team, adding to their woes after a financial nightmare. The team finished with 0 points that season, leading Steiner to immediately replace Mazepin with Kevin Magnussen. The following season saw Schumacher lose out his seat to another experienced driver, Nico Hulkenberg.
Not a lot changed for Haas and Guenther Steiner
Fielding their most experienced driver lineup did not bring much joy to the Haas camp, given the team finishing dead last in the constructors’ championship for the second time in three years. With 12 points in 2023, Haas made no progress this season after showing signs of life with an eighth-place finish in the 2022 season.
Guenther Steiner said he was “done with rookies” after dropping Mick Schumacher at the end of 2022.
But the Haas boss says he’ll be keeping a close eye on one youngster in 2024…
Via @Formula_Nerds #Haas #GuentherSteiner #F1 #F2 #Formula1https://t.co/lr4QZYNFHx
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) January 4, 2024
Most of the team’s issues arose from a VF-23 that featured almost no major upgrades from the previous season. The team put all its eggs in one basket with a huge upgrade for the United States Grand Prix (Austin). With a completely reworked body, the VF-23 had the same problem as its predecessor- an unfulfilled appetite for the Pirelli tires. Haas failed to understand the root cause behind the same and continued suffering because of it.
Heading into the next season, Steiner believes his team can provide its drivers with a much better car capable of scoring points regularly. The drivers are also optimistic of a much better 2024, but it remains to be seen whether Haas can eliminate their tire degradation issue.
