Haas

It will be interesting how it will go for Haas:

1 - Shwartzman main sponsor, SMP, is blacklisted by the US Treasury. In theory Haas, being an American company, can have its owner arrested if they receive money from SMP.

2 - Mazepin situation is not clear also. Sergey Chemezov, member of the board at Uralkali (Mazpein's dad company) is also in the US Treasury blacklist.

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2369.aspx

 

Good riddance to both of those knuckleheads.

 

No way Giovanazzi will be kept. That'd be totally insane. The guy is useless.

 

I consider this good news: There is a bunch of new and old drivers who are looking for a seat and this just opened two of them.

BTW: I'm reading Grosjean's message as if he retires whereas K-Mags sounds more like he'll be looking for a new F1 seat. I doubt either of them will get much racing action and likely end up as development/simulator/back-up drivers for other teams.

 

.....if they remain at all in the sport. I see no seat of any kind for them and would they accept 'development' roles?? I see F-E for both or other series.

 

It will be Indy or WEC.

 

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Haas already knew three weeks ago that it would put drivers aside


Haas F1 had already made the decision three weeks ago not to go ahead with Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean...

https://www.gpblog.com/en/

 

Grosjean has shown interest in sports cars and Magnussen senior had a long career with GT cars, so I´ll suppose they´ll go WEC. They won´t be unemployed for sure, so don´t suffer for them.

 

To me this timing points to Perez.

 

Haas
Haas considering pay drivers for 2021 line-up
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Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has indicated the likelihood of heading down the 'pay-driver' route after axing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

Steiner has confirmed a decision to let Grosjean and Magnussen leave at the end of this season was arrived at "two or three weeks ago", and the drivers then informed last week.

There are now a few options open to Steiner and team owner Gene Haas for replacements, notably F2 race-winner Nikita Mazepin given the money behind the 21-year-old Russian, and Sergio Perez who brings him with considerable sponsorship from Mexico.

Also in the frame are Ferrari academy drivers Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman.

The Scuderia's placement of current F2 championship leader Schumacher, in particular, depends on whether it opts to retain Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo alongside Kimi Raikkonen, and should the Finn also choose to remain in F1 for another season.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/58301/haas-considering-pay-drivers-for-2021-line-up/

 

F1 has no shortage of dirtbag billionaires.

 

OK, why not one, but two pay drivers, Pérez and Mazepin.

Pérez can drive too.

 

Perez & Schumacher Jr. appear to be the obvious pairing.

 

Agree.

Perez brings some good speed, experience and sponsorship. Jr. brings name and probs Ferrari cash or discount on PU.

In both cases Haas gets big visibility in two big auto manufacturing countries.

Alfa probably remains as is since Gio is finally showing (a bit of) speed and getting points. May be paired with another Ferrari Academy driver the following year after more F2 experience and Kimi retirement.

 

Mick Schumacher starting in F1 with the label 'pay-driver' ?

 

His family name will get him the backing he needs for any seat up and down the grid, what’s wrong w sponsorship of talent?

 

Gosh, I would have thought it was a spur of the moment snap decision.....

 

According to Joe Saward it’ll be Schumacher and Mazepin at Haas. Schumacher’s “ticket” will be an $11M discount on the Haas/Ferrari engine deal. No driver changes at Alfa.

 

Glad to see haas jettison those two drivers. They will not be going anywhere...

Robb

 

Mazepin is another with anger management issues, but $$ trumps that and also performance in F1.

Naturally papa owns his lil boys F2 team , and paying for F1 testing..ring a bell ?

 

Gene Haas is a smart cookie !

 

I can't see nothing wrong with that.

 

Nothing.

#18

 

It's fine if you want a grid full of Stroll Latifi Mazepin types ,whilst better drivers end up driving Uber .

 

Yes sounds like a team owner and son who had COVID lol!! So more entitlement and ignoring rules and copying! Progress in F1.