Haas team boss Guenther Steiner says he still hasn’t made a decision over Mick Schumacher’s future with the team.
The situation is still “50/50”, the Italian has said.
Schumacher is out of contract at the end of the 2022 campaign, and has been linked to a departure from the US-owned outfit.
Nico Hulkenberg, who hasn’t raced in F1 full-time since the 2019 campaign, is believed to be Haas’ alternative option if it opts to part ways with Schumacher at the end of the year.
A decision has not yet been made, however Steiner hinted that it will come to a verdict in the next week.
“I’m honest: It’s still 50-50. Nothing has been decided yet,” he told RTL. “We will logically not make a decision between Austin and Mexico simply because time is not there.
“The next time would be the week after Mexico, because we don’t have a race then and have more time to deal with it.”
Daniel Ricciardo, who is leaving McLaren at the end of the year, is not believed to be an option for Haas for the 2023 campaign, as the Australian has acknowledged that he won’t be on the grid next season.
When asked if he had been in contact with Hulkenberg, Steiner said: “I have talked to him.
“I’ve known him for a long time. Better than I know Daniel [Ricciardo]. We talk, but nothing is done yet.
Gene Haas, the owner of the team, appeared to recently offer Schumacher an ultimatum, insisting that points needed to be scored in order for the German to secure a position at the team.
It’s a sentiment that Steiner agrees with: “Absolutely. When I say performance, for us it’s making points.
“We’ve been saying that for a while. I think we’re also very fair. We are taking our time, we are not in a hurry at the moment.”
Are Haas announcing Ryanair as a sponsor today?
They were going to, but the Ryanair people landed in the wrong city.