Team boss' unflattering view of Piastri signing

1 year ago 66

McLaren is taking a hazard signing Formula 1 rookie Oscar Piastri, says Haas squad main Gunther Steiner.

Piastri joins the grid successful 2023 with large expectations having achieved 3 of the sport's insignificant titles, including the 2019 Formula Eurocup, the 2020 Formula 3 title and past year's Formula 2 series.

However, the Melburnian has antecedently lone ever competed successful open-wheel single-seater cars made earlier the overhaul of F1's method regulations for the 2022 season.

Piastri replaces countryman Daniel Ricciardo successful the McLaren squad aft the 21-year-old infamously rejected a full-time thrust with Alpine for 2023.

While McLaren's prime to swap retired an eight-time contention victor with a youngster yet to marque his F1 debut has been heavy debated, Steiner believes bringing successful an inexperienced operator - adjacent 1 arsenic highly-rated arsenic Piastri - is ever a gamble.

"Young drivers are ever a definite risk," helium said.

"We cognize present that George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris are each outstanding racing drivers. But we didn't truly cognize that beforehand.

"Everyone sees Oscar Piastri arsenic a fabulous talent, but honestly adjacent McLaren doesn't cognize if it's each going to beryllium arsenic hoped."

Last month, Haas axed struggling youngster Mick Schumacher aft 2 seasons with the team.

Schumacher, the lad of seven-time Formula 1 satellite champion Michael Schumacher, volition beryllium replaced by F1 seasoned Nico Hulkenberg successful his comeback to the athletics aft 3 years without a full-time drive.

"Obviously Mick cannot springiness america the wealthiness of acquisition of a Hulkenberg," Steiner said astir the determination to not renew Schumacher's contract.

"Experience takes clip truthful of people that's thing we can't blasted Mick for. But clip is precisely what we don't person astatine the moment. We person to asseverate ourselves successful the midfield, and for that, we request drivers similar Nico and Kevin Magnussen ... who connection the champion imaginable accidental of consistently scoring points."

At the clip of the announcement, Schumacher was determined to find a caller location successful F1, claiming helium was not fixed capable clip to adjust.

"In a way, Mick is right," Steiner said.

"He has present had 2 years with us, but earlier that, a young operator has small accidental to hole for this job."

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