With Nico Hulkenberg leaving and Kevin Magnussen yet to sign a new contract, Haas has two open seats for the 2025 F1 season. The contenders for these spots include Zhou Guanyu, backed by a reported €30 million, and Esteban Ocon, who is leaving Alpine. Additionally, Ferrari’s promising young driver Oliver Bearman is expected to get his first full F1 opportunity with Haas next season. Here’s our take on the potential candidates:
Reports suggest Haas will decline Zhou’s €30 million sponsorship offer, highlighting a significant shift in their team strategy. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is now focused on assembling the best team possible, moving away from the previous financial motivations that led to signings like Nikita Mazepin.
With Hulkenberg pursuing other opportunities, Haas needs two quality drivers. Bearman is a promising talent who might soon be beyond Haas’s reach, while Ocon, despite his flaws, brings valuable experience that could aid the team’s development. Although Bearman has faced some challenges in Formula 2, his potential was evident during his impressive Ferrari debut in Saudi Arabia.
While retaining Magnussen could provide a balance of experience and youth alongside Bearman, his recent defensive driving issues suggest his tenure with Haas might be nearing its end. Instead of Ocon, Haas should consider Pierre Gasly, who, at 28, has demonstrated top-tier performance potential, particularly during his standout 2021 season with Red Bull’s secondary team. Gasly’s struggles at Alpine make him a viable candidate for Haas.
Aside from Bearman, Komatsu’s strategy to pair a seasoned driver with a rising star narrows the options. Although available race winners like Daniel Ricciardo, Ocon, Gasly, and Valtteri Bottas have their shortcomings, Carlos Sainz remains a preferred choice, likely heading to Williams or Audi. Dismissing Magnussen only to replace him with Zhou seems unlikely, as Zhou’s F1 performance has been underwhelming despite his financial backing. Thus, Haas must carefully consider their choices among the available race winners and their respective flaws.
