Team principal Guenther Steiner says they're looking for a "known quantity"
Monday 17 August 2015 16:38, UK
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has played down the prospect of Danica Patrick driving for the team next season, saying they want a "known quantity" behind the wheel.
The IndyCar turned NASCAR star has been linked to the new American team - quite some story were it to happen, considering that a woman has not started a grand prix since 1976.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ at the Canadian GP, however, Steiner reckoned that Patrick, 33, would prefer to stay where she is.
"It would put us on the map one way or another," he said. "But I think Danica's career, she’s quite happy where she is at the moment. For her to make the move is a big risk; I don't she really wants to do it at this stage in her career."
Steiner said that Haas, formed by American industrialist and NASCAR team owner Gene Haas, are seeking drivers with F1 experience.
"We haven't made our decision on the drivers and I cannot say no or yes," he said. "At the moment, we are evaluating quite a lot of people; we'd really like someone with experience, because we need it: we're a new team with a lot of new things. So let's get something in which is a known quantity.
"We've no rush. We’ve got good interest from drivers. Let's see what comes along and then in a few months, when we're further down the line, we can decide who we take."
Haas have entered a close technical partnership with Ferrari, but are building their 2016 chassis at a factory in North Carolina while also basing themselves at Marussia’s former HQ in Oxfordshire.
"We're on course," Steiner added. "There's always a few things where you're behind and a few things where you're ahead but in general, we're on course.
"We've got over 100 people in total working at our factory in Banbury, working in Italy and our headquarters in the United States is up and running; we do machining and engineering there, so we're on course.
"It will be tough, we know that."
