Haas team boss Guenther Steiner asserts that his squad strongly considered retaining Mick Schumacher for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Toward the end of last year’s campaign, Haas announced that it would part ways with Schumacher ahead of 2023.
In his place arrives Nico Hulkenberg, who returns to the sport following two years on the sidelines working as Aston Martin’s reserve driver.
Haas spent much of the second half of the year deliberating its line-up for 2023.
In the end, it opted to take on Hulkenberg’s experience as it looks to return to a stable position within the midfield this year.
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Hulkenberg will partner Kevin Magnussen – but Steiner says that there was strong consideration to keep Schumacher at the squad for another season.
“Absolutely,” Steiner said when asked if he seriously thought about holding onto Schumacher for another year.
“Mick improved a lot this season, you all saw it, I don’t have to tell you that one. And that’s why it took us so long, you know?
“We didn’t take this decision, as people think, before the summer. It took us this long to decide what is best for the team, as I always said. He drove hard and good in some races.”
The highlight of Haas’ 2022 season came at the penultimate round in Brazil, when Kevin Magnussen capitalised on changing conditions in qualifying to secure the team’s first pole position.
Steiner asserts that had it been Schumacher who took the top spot, nothing would’ve changed from a driver line-up decision point of view.
“Nothing would have changed. Because you cannot make this decision on an emotional one race or one qualifying result – that would be wrong both ways.”
Schumacher has since signed a deal with Mercedes F1 and will act as its reserve driver for the 2023 campaign.
