Guenther Steiner Casts Doubt On Nico Hulkenberg's Haas Contract
Haas team chief Guenther Steiner has indicated that he will evaluate all options before entering into contract talks with Nico Hulkenberg beyond 2023.
Despite being out of the sport for three seasons, Hulkenberg has made a stunning return, out-qualifying Kevin Magnussen at all three rounds and securing seventh place in the Australian Grand Prix.
Although a renewal between Haas and Hulkenberg appears to be a mere formality, Steiner believes it's still too early in the year to be discussing contract talks.
He also hinted that the team would assess the driver market before committing to its current line-up, and this may also put pressure on Magnussen, who is yet to perform at the level expected of him.
According to Steiner, "It depends on whether we are happy with him or not...we haven't talked about drivers or extensions at the moment."
Steiner has previously mentioned that he intends to speak with Daniel Ricciardo, who was dropped by McLaren at the end of last year, about his prospects for next year. However, he has also been impressed with Hulkenberg's impact on the team since his return.
"Nico feels comfortable with us. The team and the engineers love working with him. He helps the team a lot to bring in his experience to bring us further forward," said Steiner.
Having brought in two rookies in 2020 amid financial difficulties, Haas has returned to prioritizing experience in its driver lineup with Hulkenberg's comeback.
Steiner has no complaints about the current driver combination as both Hulkenberg and Magnussen managed to have points finishes in the first three races.