The stupid season became clearer for the Haas F1 team when Ferrari Boss closes two doors

After all, the stupid Formula 1 season will not include a wave of Ferrari Junior Academy drivers.

The weekend’s announcement that Alfa Romeo will keep both Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi likely sparked a wave of disappointment with the Formula 2 paddock. Just a few weeks ago, the rumor mill was working overtime trying to win three Ferrari junior hopefuls – Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman – for the F1 drives in 2021.

At least one of the drivers, probably Schumacher, was reportedly on the way to Haas, while Ilott and Shwartzman were candidates for a second Haas seat or one of the Alfa Romeo seats.

However, this weekend in Imola, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said that only one Ferrari junior is committed to F1 in 2021.

“There’s not a place for everyone,” said Binotto. “I think they are all doing well in F2 right now, Mick, Callum and Robert. They have their season over. They are all concentrating on their next race in Bahrain. They are all going for the championship, which is very important for you. “

There’s no secret that Mick Schumacher will have a built-in fan base when he gets into Formula One.

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Schumacher starts the last F2 race weekend of two races from November 26th to 28th and leads the overall standings. Ilott is second and Shwartzman is fifth. How they finish may matter to them, but Binotto seemed to imply that a decision had already been made about who will receive the call.

“The winner will have the opportunity to do FP1 (F1 practice in Abu Dhabi at the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi,” said Binotto. “But we make our own decision. The decision will be made on what you have.” So far, their potential has been reached, our goal is not to get them into F1, but to get them to Ferrari one day in the red cars.

“At some point there will be one of the drivers who can have a place in F1 next year. The others may have other options and it’s up to us to organize that and give everyone a chance.”

Mick Schumacher

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That brings us to Haas, where there are actually two places available. According to all information, Schumacher is tied to one of the seats. The second Haas seat will likely go to either F2 driver Nikita Mazepin, current Racing Point driver Sergio Perez or free agent Nico Hülkenberg. All three bring something to the table. Mazepin, currently sixth in the F2 classification, brings the money, Perez brings the most recent success and Hulkenberg brings a decade of F1 experience and two top 10 positions in 2020 as a reserve driver when Perez missed the race after a positive COVID – 19 test.

Perez’s name continues to emerge as an opportunity at Red Bull who appears poised to move from Alex Albon. Should Perez get this place, that could bring Hulkenberg into the Haas machine.

Haas’ Guenther Steiner

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Haas team boss Günther Steiner seemed to indicate that the team is reluctant to start with two newcomers in 2021.

“First and foremost, we didn’t decide to take two newcomers.” Said Steiner. “Two newbies would not have seen anyone look at the data and the like. You would have to figure out what’s going on between them. The pros (with two newbies) are that you can take them in a direction you want to put because it never been done, that doesn’t mean it won’t work.

“Of course there is a risk that (two newbies) won’t work and I don’t want to ignore that. We did a few things differently from other people. A few years ago I was asked why we kept Roman (Grosjean) for so long . We don’t have to do what other people have done. We do what we think is right. If it works or not, we will be judged by it, no one else. “

Steiner was quick to avoid playing the hand of Imola.

“I have a short list, but I don’t want to give it to you,” said Grosjean. “We are sorry.”

Grosjean, who has been with Haas for five years, said he agrees that the team will face new challenges when it comes to two newbies in 2021. Grosjean was goalless in one part season (seven races). as a rookie for Renault in 2009.

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“In my day we were probably a little less prepared than the (novice) riders are now. I was convinced I was ready when I got in and I wasn’t. Obviously I paid a heavy price in the beginning after 20009.

“Rookies must have their chance if Formula 1 exists. I’ve been here for 10 years. If the team is aiming for two rookies, that’s good for them and I wish them all the best.”

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