It’s decision time for Haas–sponsorship and drivers.
The Formula 1 racing season continues this weekend in Hockenheim, Germany. That stop means we’re getting close to the mid-season break with Hungary coming up next weekend. Mid-season brings with it reflection about how the season is going.
One question is where are Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon going to go? It seems obvious that the Spaniard will continue to another formula. Ocon, on the other hand, will have to decide whether he will break his Mercedes contract and drive for another team. Rumors are that ‘other team’ could be Racing Point, Renault, or Haas.
And big questions loom for the Haas F1 team: Who will be driving the cars? What will the new sponsor look like?
Rich Energy CEO, William Storey, created a ruckus when he tweeted that his company was withdrawing sponsorship of the Haas team due to poor performance. Although the executive committee said that was not the case–and sacked Storey–the sponsor also announced that the name would be changed to ‘Lightning Volt.’
What is Lightning Volt? Will the Rich Energy Group, which just began sponsoring Haas F1 this season, stay on the cars but under the Lightning Volt operation? Answers are uncertain at this point. We’ll have to wait until Friday when the Haas cars roll out for Friday practice at Hockenheim.
Romain Grosjean (left) and Kevin Magnussen (photo, BBC)
But one thing isn’t a mystery–the 2019 performance of the Haas cars. The problem all season has been the set up when the car is ready to race on Sundays. The outcome has been relatively good during qualifying with both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen placing well up the field. Magnussen, for one, was seventh in the world championship earlier in the season and qualified an excellent fifth in Austria.
However, both drivers–especially at the recent British Grand Prix–need to remember that they need to finish to get points. Both drivers had already collided in a minor altercation in Spain. Then, they collided again during the opening lap two weeks ago, flattening both of their tires. That put both cars out of the race, making team manager Guenther Steiner furious.
Just weeks before, Magnussen went on a rant stating that the car “was the worst he had ever driven.” Steiner didn’t like that and (on the radio) advised Magnussen to concentrate on driving.
So, with all of their troubles, can Haas survive?
Still, though, can Haas recover without having to go to that extreme? If the sponsorship goes bad, Haas would still be guaranteed for the four-year contract. That would amount to a refund of about $40 million, and the American team would need to find another sponsor.
As for the two drivers, Grosjean and Magnussen are due to continue–at least until season’s end. Magnussen still has one year left on his contract, but Grosjean must get a renewal and it would be surprising to see the Frenchman get a re-up.
What’s the bottom line for Haas? It needs an upgrade on sponsorship and drivers. Will one or both happen? Time will tell.
