Nobody knows the Haas Formula 1 team better than their former team principal Guenther Steiner.
He parted ways with the American outfit before the start of the 2024 season with Ayao Komatsu promoted in his place and doing a fine job.
Guenther Steiner was asked on The Red Flags Podcast about who he would hire if he was still in charge of Haas for the 2025 season.
Haas already know that Nico Hulkenberg will be moving on at the end of the year when he joins Sauber.
There are also question marks over whether they will retain Kevin Magnussen with the Danish driver nearing a one-race ban after accumulating 10 penalty points in the first seven race weekends of the season.
However, Steiner believes that Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will be out of Haas’s budget.
Both drivers are also out of contract and assessing their options considering the French manufacturer’s struggles this season.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship
Guenther Steiner thinks Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are out of Haas’s budget
Haas are one of the most interesting available options for drivers who will be free agents next year.
They currently sit 7 in the Constructors’ Championship although they face a huge uphill battle to score points in Monaco.
They’ve been closely linked with Ferrari junior driver Oliver Bearman to replace Hulkenberg for next year.
However, team owner Gene Haas has some concerns over signing a rookie after the struggles Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher dealt with during their time with the team.
It means that Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon could be options for Haas but Steiner believes the team won’t have the budget to be able to afford either of them.
Gasly has struggled this season in a difficult-to-drive Alpine, although he finally reached Q3 in Monaco as he miraculously found some extra pace which you would expect from a driver with 138 races of F1 experience.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
His teammate isn’t going to replicate the scoring of the third podium of his career at Monaco this time around but is attracting interest up and down the grid.
He’s already been linked with Haas but negotiations might not be easy to navigate unless the Frenchman lowers his demands.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Haas have a difficult decision to make on the 2025 driver line-up
Asked who he would replace Nico Hulkenberg with if he was still in charge of Haas, Steiner said: “I think Ollie Bearman is a good move, but Ollie did a good job in the Ferrari, but it’s one and I think he knows himself it’s a little bit early to say this is the next Max Verstappen now.
“He could be, but it’s a 50/50, you have no certainty that he will be.
“I think there is a good waiting list there because I would say the two Alpine drivers are looking around, but I think their demands money-wise, it’s above Haas money.”
Steiner will know better than anyone what it’s like to work with Gene Haas which may explain his feelings about the team being unlikely to afford Gasly or Ocon.
They may have to lower their demands if they want to stay in Formula 1, although Alpine won’t be rushing to replace either driver given their experience.
It’s one of the most fascinating aspects of the driver’s market with the teams in the top half of the grid looking more set in their line-ups for next year.
Plenty of changes could happen very soon and Haas will know that the options available to them mean they’re in a position of power in negotiations.
The post ‘Their demands’: Guenther Steiner thinks 138-race driver and three-podium star will demand ‘above Haas money’ appeared first on F1 Oversteer.