Guenther Steiner is hopeful that Haas will have their 2023 driver line-up finalised by the season finale in Abu Dhabi. While Kevin Magnussen's multi-year contract means that he will remain with the team beyond 2022, the identity of his teammate is yet to be announced. Mick Schumacher remains in contention to retain his position within the squad, but is thought to be facing competition from the likes of Nico Hulkenberg. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Steiner is aiming to have the decision made in time for post-season testing. "Our aim is for sure [at] Abu Dhabi to know who's driving the car next year," Steiner told media, including RacingNews365.com . "Because then, at the Abu Dhabi test, the driver – whoever it is – can drive the car."
Steiner reflects on Schumacher's US GP performance
With three races remaining in the 2022 F1 season, Schumacher has further opportunities to prove himself after mixed fortunes throughout the campaign so far. The German endured a difficult start to the year, during which he experienced a number of crashes, but looked to have turned things around with back-to-back points finishes at the British and Austrian Grands Prix in July. Schumacher has failed to score points again since then, and struggled last time out at the United States Grand Prix after picking up damage from debris on the track. When asked whether he was happy with Schumacher's performance in Austin, Steiner explained: "He couldn't race because the car was damaged. "He lost about 30 points of downforce because he went into debris. You can't say if [the performance] is good or bad, you don't know what would have happened without losing downforce. It was what it was."
Schumacher remaining focused on 2022
Schumacher might be arriving into the Mexican Grand Prix weekend without knowing his future for 2023, but the 23-year-old insists that the continued speculation is not impacting his concentration. "It's not difficult [to concentrate]. I'm here to do my job, and I'm here to do well," Schumacher said. "So that's what my main focus is on, and that's everything that I'm in control of, so I'm just trying to do my best and that's what I'm here for." Haas currently sit eighth in the Constructors' Championship standings, two points ahead of AlphaTauri in ninth.
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