'Driver choice of Haas will show their ambition in Formula 1'

According to Mark Hughes, the decision on a new driver will say a lot about the future of Haas. In his column for The Race the Formula One journalist talks about the American team's major decline and a possible return to the sub top.

The entrance of Haas

With a sixth place for Romain Grosjean, the 2016 Australian Grand Prix was a dream debut for the American team in Formula One. Led by Guenther Steiner, Gené Haas stepped into F1 in 2016 hoping for the same successes as in America. In the first few years, that worked out well. After an impressive debut and an eighth place in the championship, the small team even climbed to fifth place among the constructors in 2018.

In 2019, however, things take a turn for the worse when performance is disappointing. With only 28 points, the team finishes ninth in the standings, and that sets the owner thinking. In 2020 and 2021, there is hardly any investment in the team and everything is focused on 2022. Steiner also searches for sponsors at all costs. Rich Energy and Dmitry Mazepin, however, both prove not to be the solution for various reasons.

How to proceed after Uralkali's departure

The question now is what is the next step of Haas. Mazepin may be sidelined by Haas after the ties with its sponsor Uralkali are severed. Haas brought him in because of the money, so the team has the financial means to make the step to the sub top. 

Hughes wonders in his column what the ambitions of Haas are. Much, he believes, will become clear from the choice Haas makes when picking a new driver. Antonio Giovinazzi is mentioned by him, but in doing so he points out that he has not proved to be a world-class talent. If Mick Schumacher were to beat him, his role as team leader is already over, and if Giovinazzi wins, then one can wonder how good Schumacher is.

The Formula 2 champion 

Hughes then points to another talent. Oscar Piastri has won Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles, but has not found a permanent place at his own team Alpine. Hughes acknowledges that Alpine will never just get rid of the Australian, but even a lease option would be good for Haas, according to the journalist. It would bring the best possible driver into the team.

With that, Hughes broaches an important subject. Money is very important in F1, but a driver can give a team just that little bit extra. George Russell (as a mercenary of Mercedes) played a crucial role in the way up for Williams. He got the most out of his car and made Williams want to run that little bit harder.

Hughes believes that Haas now needs to show that it still has ambition in Formula 1 by bringing in the best possible driver, but it remains to be seen whether this will happen. Giovinazzi and Pietro Fittipaldi seem to have better papers at the moment, but the question is whether they are the drivers who can pull the American team out of the doldrums.