Steiner denies Haas selling to Saudi investors
Gunther Steiner has played down suggestions Haas could be sold to investors from Saudi Arabia.
After splitting recently as Haas' title sponsor, Rich Energy boss William Storey said on Twitter: "We wish Haas the best of luck in negotiations selling the team to Saudi investors".
Team boss Steiner responded at Sochi: "I really do not know what to say except I also wish the investors good luck, because I don't know them. Haas is not for sale. This is one of the usual tweets from them (Rich Energy) and I'd rather not get into it. It's not our style," he added.
However, there are rumours swirling around the American team.
One of them is that Robert Kubica's sponsor PKN Orlen could switch to Haas for 2020. The Polish driver could then become a simulator and occasional Friday driver.
"Of course we are interested in working with Robert, but I do not know what his plans are," Steiner responded. "I have told him to let me know if he is interested, but the decision depends more on him than on me."
Kubica is also linked with a Ferrari test role for 2020.
"Last year I had interesting negotiations with a top team," he admitted in Russia. "It was a proposal designed for the long term, but it basically meant I had to forget about driving and do some other tasks. But I felt that I had the chance to race and that I should use it and I do not regret that decision," Kubica added. "This year everything is a little different and in the end I will have to choose from what is on the table. Time will tell where I end up."
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Why is it that I sometimes think that the rumors are more interesting than the actual races? That thought continues to bother me, although I will admit that the return of Ferrari to more or less their typical form (winning) is heartening. Even for non-Ferrari fans! Why? Because competition still makes the racing so much better! So I am hoping that the rumors of HAAS selling off his team to high-dollar investors is not true. Racing at this level NEEDS an American entry — pure USA. So I look at rumors with some trepidation, because I want to see at least an all-American Team, if not an American driving one. The latter is so remote as to be unthinkable today. The current Euro climate does not make it easy for any American (unless VERY DEEPLY SPONSORED) to have any crack at being in a competitive F1 car. I would settle for a second-rank (midfield) placement, it being at least a start. Odds for a modern Phil Hill;l, Dan Gurney, Richie Ginther, Masten Gregory being slim to none. So let the rumors fly! Sometimes they are VERY interesting...
In my previous remarks about rumors in F1... I left out Mario Andretti, Mark Donahue and Scott Speed — as well as Michael Andretti, who had one horrible year over on The Continent. Please forgive an aging fan that sometimes has a senior moment — but not often.
C'mon, Everett, you are still missing the most recent US fizzle with talent...Alexander Rossi. He is doing quite well for himself, thank you very much. Alex has more real talent than all but two of your listed drivers. Fact is that Euros have just a bit of neg camber when it comes to US talent.
Well ReallyOldRacer, I knew I was bound to leave someone out. You are correct; Alexander Rossi is indeed a great talent and I remember cheering wildly for him when he took the Indy 500. He also did it in a smart fashion, which shows he has the patience and the skill to adapt to situations.
A bit of luck would have went a long way towards making his bid for the IndyCar crown tighter. He should many a good year ahead of him, and I hope he sticks with Andretti Motorsports. Thanks for pointing out my error. Maybe my memories go back too far for my own good!