Jeff Gordon To F1 With Haas? It’s Not That Far-Fetched

When the checkered flag waves in November at Homestead the Sprint Cup career of Jeff Gordon will be over. Sure, Gordon could still run a part-time schedule in 2016 and beyond but his quest to win championships would have come to an end. Despite Gordon pulling back at the end of this season he made it clear that he wasn’t retiring, hence why it would make sense that he will run a part-time schedule in 2016. However, what if Gordon did more than that next season? What if Gordon decided to get behind the wheel of a F1 car?

For starters you have to understand that Gordon and Gene Haas have a good professional relationship with one another. Hendrick Motorsports does a lot with Stewart-Haas Racing and over the years the two have gotten to know one another. More importantly, Rick Hendrick and Gene Haas have an ever closer relationship which would be a bargaining tool for Haas in convincing Gordon to run a F1 season.

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As it was mentioned above, Gordon was adamant that he wasn’t retiring but was instead starting the next phase of his life. Haas is starting the next phase of his in 2016 when he launches his F1 team which still needs a driver. Gordon himself is a superb road-racer and one would have to imagine that he would have success in the series. Additionally, the F1 season is much shorter than the NASCAR season. In 2015 F1 will run 20 events as compared to NASCAR’s 36 races and two exhibition events. Running a full F1 season would almost like cutting Gordon’s NASCAR schedule in half.

Also, less races would mean more personal time for Gordon. That time could of course be spent with his family and used to manage his health (back).

The one thing that could throw a wrench into all of this (aside from Gordon and Haas not having mutual interest) would be the testing schedule. Earlier in his career Gordon received offers to join F1 and IndyCar after he won his second NASCAR championship. At the time Gordon never seriously considered jumping series and he is on record as saying that one of the reasons was the amount of time he would have been asked to spend testing and proving himself. One would have to imagine that if Haas offered him the ride in 2016 that there wouldn’t be any need for him to have to prove himself.

A move to F1 in 2016 wouldn’t just benefit Gordon as it would also be a boost for Haas. The track record of American F1 teams is pitiful for the most part. That being said, bringing over a driver like Gordon to run would be a huge deal. Gordon would immediately bring fans, exposure and a ratings increase, all things that Haas would welcome. Gordon also has plenty of racing knowledge and experience which would be a plus for the team even if that experience isn’t in a F1 machine. Gordon and Haas teaming up would be a huge splash for the American’s in the F1 series.

What are your thoughts about Gordon racing in F1? Even if you don’t think that it will ever happen you have to admit that the dots do connect to make it a possibility. Be sure to share your thoughts by commenting below.

Christopher Olmstead is the Editor of BeyondTheFlag.com on the FanSided Network. Follow us on Twitter @Beyond_The_Flag and “Like” us on Facebook.