Steiner dismisses Magnussen sentiment accusation

Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has insisted there is no sentiment behind the decision to retain Kevin Magnussen for next season.

The Dane impressed when returning to F1 last season but has struggled for form against new teammate Nico Hulkenberg this campaign.

Hulkenberg has been in scintillating form having come back from his own three-year sabbatical from a full-time drive - his performances punctuated by the second-fastest qualifying time in Canada [though he was demoted on the grid by virtue of a penalty].

But whilst Hulkenberg has made waves, Magnussen has been unable to get to grips with the VF-23 and since the announcement that both drivers were retained, Haas has been accused of using sentiment in keeping the former McLaren and Renault driver.

No sentiment

Responding to the suggestions, Steiner told media including RacingNews365.com: "No, it is not sentimental.

"Kevin isn't in the best phase of his career at the moment but we are not performing and we understand where he is at - he has no confidence in the car and is just in a bad spot.

"He is keeping upbeat about it and changing the driver would not make us better at the moment.

"Obviously, Nico is doing a fantastic job and we are amazed how he does it.

"But once we get a car to Kevin's liking - a stable car - that is why we kept him because we believe in him.

"He was with us when we were in bad days, sometimes you cannot overreact, we want to give him a chance.

"It is nothing to do with sentiment."