Formula 1: Haas reveal 2020 decision is between two drivers
By Asher Fair
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has confirmed that the team’s driver decision for the 2020 Formula 1 season is between two drivers.
Kevin Magnussen is set to return to Haas for the fourth year in the 2020 Formula 1 season after signing a multi-year contract ahead of the 2019 season, but the sport’s lone American team still have one open seat.
Haas are one of five teams that have not yet confirmed their driver lineups for the 2020 season, and they are one of four teams that have one seat occupied and one seat open.
There has been a lot of speculation about who might end up becoming the teammate to the 26-year-old Dane next season, but team principal Guenther Steiner has narrowed down the team’s decision to two drivers.
Steiner already ruled out signing a rookie, which eliminated reserve and test driver Pietro Fittipaldi from the discussion, and he rejected Pascal Wehrlein when he approached the team looking for a seat for next year, which would have marked his return to Formula 1 after two seasons away from the sport.
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According to Steiner, there are just two drivers in the discussion, and those drivers are Romain Grosjean and Nico Hulkenberg.
Here is what Steiner had to say about the matter, according to Motorsport.
"“It’s between Nico and Romain. We haven’t made the final decision yet, but it will happen soon.”"
Grosjean has driven for the team since they entered Formula 1 ahead of the 2016 season while Hulkenberg currently drives for Renault.
However, Renault have already confirmed that the 32-year-old German will not return to the team next season despite the fact that Hulkenberg previously stated that he was “likely” to return.
Renault confirmed that Esteban Ocon will replace Hulkenberg next season after Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport opted to re-sign Valtteri Bottas instead of promoting Ocon, their reserve and test driver.
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Who will Haas end up signing to be Kevin Magnussen’s teammate for the 2020 Formula 1 season? Will they stick with Romain Grosjean for what would be his fifth season driving for the team, or will they switch up their driver lineup for the first time since between the 2016 and 2017 seasons and sign Nico Hulkenberg? Where will the driver who they don’t sign end up next year?