ANALYSIS: Why Haas Changed Drivers Direction – And The Lead Candidates To Get The Nod For 2021

Everything will change at Haas in 2021. The American team renounces the services of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen and starts the next campaign with a brand new driver line-up. But what did that do?

How come?

Only three drivers have driven a Haas Formula 1 car since arriving in F1 in 2016 – Esteban Gutierrez is the other – as owner Gene Haas and team boss Günther Steiner strived for continuity and experience to make the team an integral part to make the F1.

READ MORE: Grosjean and Magnussen announce that they will be leaving Haas in late 2020

It’s a strategy that has its merits, but has not paid off for Haas. They followed a breakthrough year in 2018 with their worst campaign yet in 2019, and this year it gets worse as the American team only scored three points to keep them in ninth place.

With a cost cap of $ 145 million next year and a series of revolutionary technical regulations over the next year aimed at improving the playing field and bridging the gap between teams, now is the time to roll the dice Change direction and try something new.

The revision of the driver line-up is the first stage in this process.

Grosjean scored points in Haas’ F1 debut in Australia in 2016

Why are you switching both drivers?

There is no doubt that Grosjean was good for the team. The Frenchman scored Haas’ first points on the team’s debut in Australia. He was also proven correct in diagnosing last year’s car problems after months of soul searching.

However, critics would argue that he is not consistent enough to justify his seat. A run of 20 races without points (which ended in Germany last time) is not good. And this year there were signs, especially in his body language and the way he talks about his future, that he knew his time in F1 was coming to an end. Grosjean is said to have been in the simulator for Mahindra last week, suggesting a move to Formula E is a real possibility.

The decision may be tough for Kevin Magnussen, six years younger than Grosjean. The Dane has certainly been a stronger and more rounded racing driver since he left Renault and joined the smaller, close-knit American company.

Like Grosjean, Magnussen has found it difficult to score points this season and only scored once.

But the driver strategy has changed and Magnussen no longer fits into the form. They don’t want experience, which is why Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg aren’t fighting to replace them.

READ MORE: Steiner Says Magnussen is the best starter in F1 after an incredible 9 spots in Russia in Round 1

My understanding is that Haas will choose the youth, especially emerging talent, who will bring financial support, although we will have to wait for confirmation of who that will be.

What are the benefits of moving to a youthful occupation?

Some will disagree with Haas and Steiner’s decision – but both see the long term.

At the moment, I think Haas has the smallest budget of any Formula 1 team on the grid. And while the model they run – buying as many parts as regulations allow – has worked at times when things go wrong, Haas just isn’t able to respond at the speed with which they are in must compete in Formula 1.

By hiring two drivers with financial support, the team can use the building blocks to operate at the cost cap (if they hit the limit they would need at least an additional $ 50 million), improving their competitiveness.

Gene Haas, owner and founder of Haas F1, and Günther Steiner, team principal, have decided to change direction in terms of drivers

Is It a Risky Strategy?

What you will initially lose in experience and quality of feedback you will regain by having two young, hungry drivers who want to be successful, as well as the budget to improve their technical and technical know-how to avoid these drivers only to help with growth, but also to make the car faster.

Haas haven’t invested a lot of money in infrastructure, research and development, and design because of the way they work, and they intend to continue the model of taking over parts of Ferrari such as drivetrain, transmission and suspension.

READ MORE: Grosjean weighs hypercars and Formula E when he loses a Haas seat

If anything, that relationship is growing closer. But what they need are people who can make these parts work efficiently, who can understand why the development didn’t work and fix them quickly, and have the software and hardware to better understand their car.

Taking on drivers with financial assistance enables them to do so.

Which young drivers are you planning to take with you?

It is almost certain that a Ferrari junior will be in one of the seats next year as part of their closer relationship with Ferrari.

Callum Ilott (left) was supposed to drive for Haas in the first RP in Germany, but it is F2 rival Mick Schumacher (right) who is now believed to be a top Haas target

Callum Ilott was supposed to run for them in the first RP in Germany until the fog paid off – and he’s hoping to get another chance later this year, most likely in Abu Dhabi – but he’s not running the Haas seat race at.

My information suggests that Mick Schumacher – F2 championship leader and son of F1 legend Michael – is now the top contender despite originally en route to Alfa Romeo.

Ferrari and Haas are expected to wait until after the F2 season finale in Bahrain to make one final call and announce a deal.

The other seat is a little more open. There’s a chance a second Ferrari junior might get it, but Russian F2 racing driver Nikita Mazepin is also considered a real competitor, aided by his wealthy businessman father.

Whatever the cast, it will be youthful. Haas rely on talent and the financial support that comes with it to regain their shape for 2018 and become a competitive, enduring racing company.

Magnussen and Grosjean leave Haas: what happens now?