Haas looking at up to 10 drivers for 2021 F1 seats

Haas boss Guenther Steiner says there are “close to 10” drivers on the team’s shortlist to fill its seats for the 2021 Formula 1 season, including Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

Grosjean and Magnussen are both out of contract at the end of the season and Steiner has already made it clear that all options are on the table for Haas regarding its driver line-up for next year.

After securing its future in F1 by committing to the new Concorde Agreement, the American outfit’s attention is now turning towards firming up its line-up.

Neither Grosjean nor Magnussen have yet opened talks with Haas over an extended deal for 2021.

"We are speaking with everybody, and we need to see what we want to do and then decide what we are going to do," Steiner revealed ahead of this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix.

"I don't think there's many seats free in the moment anyway, so that is on my side.

"Everybody's considered, who is on the market. We lay everything on a table and then we see what we want.

"What do we want to do? Do we want to keep the drivers we have got? Do we want experienced drivers? Do we want to start with young drivers? Do we do a mix of it? Everything is on the table.

"It is amazing what is around in the moment,” he added. “That's why you see me very calm. Because there are only the 20 seats, and we have got 10 potential people which could do the job, which is good.

"Two of them we have got already."

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Asked specifically about the new availability of Sergio Perez, who will be replaced by outgoing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel at the renamed Aston Martin squad for 2021, Steiner confirmed he had spoken to the Mexican about a drive.

"I respect him a lot, you know what he did," he added.

"I mean, as [was] always said also with Sebastian [Vettel], it's a pity if we would lose him in Formula 1. The same with Nico Hulkenberg not being here.

"They're all good people. I don't know what we're going to do. I said, there are a lot of options there."