Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Recommended for you

FIA president targets nearly 150kg F1 weight reduction by 2031

Formula 1
FIA president targets nearly 150kg F1 weight reduction by 2031

Red Bull reveals dual San Diego paint schemes for Van Gisbergen and Zilisch

NASCAR Cup
San Diego
Red Bull reveals dual San Diego paint schemes for Van Gisbergen and Zilisch

Le Mans 24h: Cadillac beats BMW… in FP4

WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24h: Cadillac beats BMW… in FP4

George Russell tipped to end Kimi Antonelli's winning run in Barcelona

Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya GP
George Russell tipped to end Kimi Antonelli's winning run in Barcelona

Why Cadillac lost pole position for 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why Cadillac lost pole position for 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

Martin Brundle praises "serene and unbeatable" Kimi Antonelli after Monaco GP win

Formula 1
Monaco GP
Martin Brundle praises "serene and unbeatable" Kimi Antonelli after Monaco GP win

How to watch NASCAR at Pocono: Weekend schedule, start time, TV

NASCAR Cup
Pocono
How to watch NASCAR at Pocono: Weekend schedule, start time, TV

JDC-Miller MotorSports confirms Laurin Heinrich for Six Hours of the Glen

IMSA
Watkins Glen
JDC-Miller MotorSports confirms Laurin Heinrich for Six Hours of the Glen
Breaking news

Steiner says no American driver is ready for F1 now

Gunther Steiner says Haas wants to place an American driver in one of its Formula 1 race seats, but does not feel there is anyone currently ready to step in.

 Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-17
2017 champion Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet celebrates
Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, on the pit wall
2017 champion Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet celebrates
Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-17

There have been suggestions that to boost F1's popularity in the United States, F1 needs to find a full-time race seat for an American driver.

Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi completed a partial F1 campaign with Manor in 2015, becoming the first American to contest a grand prix since Scott Speed in 2007, before heading back to the States.

Meanwhile, Steiner recently said IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden would struggle if dropped into F1 without prior exposure.

American team Haas finished eighth in the constructors' championship in its debut F1 season and followed that up with another eighth-place finish last season.

When asked if an American driver was high on the list, now that Haas had settled in to F1, Steiner told Motorsport.com: "It's not on top of our list.

"It's on top of our list if there's a good one. Obviously, we want one. But then maybe, if there is a really good one, would they come to us?

"Just having an American driver who maybe cannot compete at a certain level is maybe not good for the sport.

"[Signing an American driver] would be an ambition, but at the moment there is nobody ready for F1 in the United States in my opinion."

Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen's respective contracts expire at the end of next season, with the team believed to have options on both.

"They are both worthy of staying," said Steiner. "Do either of them want to stay? That's the next thing. There is a lot of factors which come into that.

"People want to say we take somebody else, but no. We're not. We are fine. [For 2019]. I don't know yet, but I will tell you in due course."

Previous article Red Bull's junior programme has "softened" - Webber
Next article Tech analysis: Formula 1's 2018 rule changes

Top Comments

Latest news