Haas F1 team boss Gunther Steiner has confirmed he is in talks with Nico Hulkenberg for a 2023 seat.
“I spoke with him,” Gunther Steiner told RTL. “I’ve known Nico for a long time. I know him better than Daniel (Ricciardo).”
“We’re talking about it, but nothing has been decided yet.”
Daniel Ricciardo appears to be heading for a ‘break’ from racing in F1 in 2023 rather than accepting an offer to negotiate with Haas F1 team.
Gunther Steiner said in September that he sent a “text” to struggling 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo’s final contract year at McLaren was bought out as the team preferred to sign rookie Oscar Piastri.
Gunther Steiner has suggested Daniel Ricciardo is not interested in becoming Kevin Magnussen’s teammate in 2023.
“If he’s interested in us, don’t be shy to call 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 first before anyone meddles with you. I think he’s a good driver and I don’t know how he got into this situation. I think he needs to be honest with himself and decide what to do.”
“For us, he’s going to be a big hit. He was the race winner last year. I rate him as a driver, but I don’t understand why he’s not performing now.”
“That’s what he understands.”
Haas F1 team owner Gene Haas has warned that Mick Schumacher will need to score points in the final four races of the season, but Gunther Steiner still believes Schumacher will be in the seat for 2023. claimed to be a candidate.
“To be honest, it’s still 50/50,” Gunther Steiner told German broadcaster ntv.
“We won’t 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 deal with it.”
Gutan Steiner has denied 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.
“Pressure is not a bad thing, because with pressure comes opportunity, and I think he 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 knows what it is. It’s part of his job.”
As for Daniel Ricciardo, most insiders believe he has already decided to become the Mercedes F1 team’s reserve driver for 2023.
“The more time goes by, the more I feel like I need it,” said Daniel Ricciardo when asked about taking a “break” from racing in 2023.
“There’s really nothing in the form of an opportunity for next year. Part of it is that we want to reset the break a bit and part of it is 2024 and there could be better opportunities.”
Category: F1 / Hearth / Nico Hulkenberg / Daniel Ricardo / Mick Schumacher