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Formula One: Gil de Ferran talks Haas team’s comments on American drivers

By Asher Fair

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 12: Romain Grosjean of France driving the (8) Haas F1 Team Haas-Ferrari VF-17 Ferrari on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 12: Romain Grosjean of France driving the (8) Haas F1 Team Haas-Ferrari VF-17 Ferrari on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
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Former IndyCar driver and 2003 Indianapolis 500 champion Gil de Ferran made his thoughts known when it comes to Haas Formula One team’s stance on American drivers.

Recent comments by Gunther Steiner, the team principal of the Haas Formula One team, have caused a stir-up in the racing world, as apparently Steiner does not feel that there are any American drivers who are ready to compete in Formula One.

Many active American drivers, particularly IndyCar drivers, including Graham Rahal and Conor Daly, responded to Gunther’s comments and basically argued that they were incorrect.

Here were Steiner’s comments, according to Autosport.com.

"“It’s not on top of our list. It’s on top of our list if there’s a good one. Obviously, we want one. But then maybe, if there is a really good one, would they come to us? Just having an American driver who maybe cannot compete at a certain level is maybe not good for the sport.“[Signing an American driver] would be an ambition, but at the moment there is nobody ready for F1 in the United States in my opinion. They are both worthy of staying. Do either of them want to stay? That’s the next thing. There is a lot of factors which come into that.“People want to say we take somebody else, but no. We’re not. We are fine. [For 2019] I don’t know yet, but I will tell you in due course.”"

Now, former IndyCar driver and 2003 Indianapolis 500 champion Gil de Ferran, 50, has offered his thoughts on the subject and why Steiner’s position on the matter is not “fair”.

Here is what de Ferran had to say, according to Motorsport.com.

"“I don’t think it is a fair point. There is a lot of great American drivers, the current IndyCar champion [Josef Newgarden] is a very talented driver. I think that a lot of the young American talent has grown, but is focused on the other branch of racing – stock car racing.“So you get guys that nowadays are older or retired – like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson – and they are supremely talented individuals. But early on they took this branch and, to be fair, it is very difficult.“A lot of top American talent is going on that branch of the big tree. So the pool is smaller than what it could be. Otherwise, I think [Alexander] Rossi is very talented, Newgarden is very talented. There’s a couple of other young guys too.”"

More from Formula One

Read more of what de Ferran had to say on the subject here.

While de Ferran himself never drove in Formula One, he did have success in IndyCar. He drove full-time in the sport for nine seasons and collected a total of 12 victories in 161 races.

One of de Ferran’s 12 wins came in the 2003 Indianapolis 500, when he held off Helio Castroneves, his teammate who was trying to go three for three in the race after winning it in his rookie season in 2001 and then again in a controversial race in 2002. de Ferran drove in the Indianapolis 500 four times, and he won it in his fourth and final start.

Seven of de Ferran’s nine full-time seasons in the sport were spent in CART. In both of his final two seasons in CART in 2000 and 2001, he won the championship.

Next: Top 10 Formula One drivers of all-time

Is Gil de Ferran’s take on whether or not there are any American drivers ready to compete in Formula One at this point accurate, or at least more so than Gunther Steiner’s take? When will we see an American driver compete in Formula One.

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