Gunther Steiner has hinted at the fact that he’d welcome Daniel Ricciardo to Haas in a contract for the 2024 season.
The Aussie made his first Formula 1 appearance of the season on home soil in Melbourne, he was seen in interviews talking about his future in F1 hinting at a potential return to the sport next season.
Haas will no doubt look at Ricciardo as an option for it’s 2024 campaign as the Ferrari-powered team becomes more and more competitive. Both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen are only on contract for the 2023 season.
Last season, Ricciardo was linked to Haas as a replacement for Mick Schumacher, son of late F1 legend Michael Schumacher, the young German struggled in the sport after a spectacular season in F2, winning in that classification. Guenther Steiner was heard saying in Drive to Survive stating: “He wants 10 bloody million. Minimum!” However, since then the driver’s stock has significantly decreased since he was given the boot from McLaren and took a role as third driver for his old team Red Bull.
However, recent comments from Steiner indicate that the Italian isn’t shutting the door on a Ricciardo and Haas partnership.
Ricciardo Door Still Wide Open For Haas
Speaking with the press in Melbourne, Steiner said: “It’s a little bit early to speak about a driver change already for next year.
“So let’s see how we are doing with these drivers and, for sure, at some point maybe I speak with him but I cannot promise anything because if our two guys do a good job.”
The team principal explained that he’s still considering Daniel Ricciardo as an option for the team in 2024.
“But for sure, everybody is wanting to speak with Danny after a year off, maybe he knows again what he wants to do and he will be interesting for everybody in Formula 1.
“But at the moment I have a new driver this year that has done only two races, so I need to give him a little bit of a chance.”
