08/10/2020
NEWS STORY
Ahead of his FP1 debut, Haas team boss, Guenther Steiner admits that British youngster, Callum Ilott is not being considered for a seat in 2021.
Currently second in the F2 championship, Ilott, like fellow FP1 debutant Mick Schumacher, is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
However, before the youngster has even turned a wheel, the team admits that he is not being considered for a 2021 seat.
"He's not on the list because he's a Ferrari driver and he's their driver, so therefore he's not on the list," said Steiner at the Nurburgring today. "I don't know what they are doing with him, what their plans are for him so at the moment he's not on the list.
"I have a lot of respect for him because he's second in the F2 championship, which means he's pretty good," he added. "Being very honest, he's not on the list now, but maybe he's on the list tomorrow. But it will not depending on the FP1 result.
"For sure if he does one thing that he shouldn't be doing then he wouldn't be on the list anymore," he laughed, "like if he crashes the car."
Having previously suggested that the team is considering as many as ten drivers, including current incumbents Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, Steiner admits that the American outfit is seeking continuity in that whoever drivers for Haas in 2021 will be there for 2022 when the new rules are introduced.
Along with Ilott, Schumacher will make his FP1 debut with Alfa Romeo tomorrow, while fellow FDA member, Robert Shwartzman will make his debut in Abu Dhabi.
Asked if his team would be willing to take one of the Ferrari youngsters if urged to do so, Steiner replied: "They are in the fortunate position to have three good ones. For sure, they put themselves in that position by investing in the right guys.
"For sure being aligned in the engine with them, if you want young drivers, for sure we will talk with them first. But they put themselves in that position, there is nothing that goes beyond the collaboration on the engine side.
"Also in F2 there are other good drivers and teams have the same issue of where to put the people," he added.
"I think Ferrari has got that issue because they have got three very good ones, all of which are in the top five in F2. I don't know how they are going to solve that problem but thank God it's not my problem."
Check out our Thursday gallery from the Nurburgring, here.