Haas F1 Team Considers Pay Driver Option for 2016 Debut
Gene Haas outlines plans for his Formula One team’s first season, indicating a willingness to fill one seat with a driver bringing sponsorship after Danica Patrick rules herself out.
Gene Haas has confirmed that his new Formula One team is open to signing a pay driver for its 2016 debut, following the withdrawal of Danica Patrick from consideration and ongoing internal debate over the team's driver line-up.
The American team owner had previously described Patrick, who currently races for his NASCAR outfit, as his ideal driver for the new F1 squad. But Patrick, 32, has now stated she is happy in her current series, closing the door on a high-profile American entry for Haas.
With Patrick out of the frame, Haas is weighing up more conventional options. He told F1 business reporter Christian Sylt that the team’s preference is to pair a veteran Formula One driver, ideally someone with recent experience of the 2014 regulations, with a second driver who could bring sponsorship money. This approach mirrors the strategy used by several midfield teams in recent years, balancing technical feedback and racecraft from an established name with the budgetary boost of a so-called pay driver.
Balancing experience and funding
Haas acknowledged that having an American driver would be a major coup for the team, but admitted the realities of Formula One make it difficult to ignore the financial advantages of a well-funded seat. He said the team is seeking a driver with promise who can also attract sponsorship, whether American or not.
There are also reports of internal disagreements between Haas and team principal Gunther Steiner, particularly regarding the driver selection process. Steiner is understood to be less enthusiastic about involving Patrick and is reportedly pushing for a more traditional F1 line-up. According to Italian publication Omnicorse, these differences have grown more pronounced and could affect the team’s structure ahead of its first season.
Next steps for Haas F1 Team
Haas’s comments suggest the team will likely follow the established path of new entrants by hiring a mix of experience and financial support. With the 2016 grid still taking shape, Haas F1’s decision will be watched closely by drivers and sponsors looking for a route into the sport. For more on how the team’s shortlist is shaping up, seeHaas names Vergne, Gutiérrez and Hülkenberg as 2016 F1 seat contenders.
