Haas open to running Ferrari F1 juniors in Friday practices this year

Ferrari Driver Academy members Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman could get a run out during a Formula 1 practice session this year, according to Haas boss Guenther Steiner.

Due to the close relationship Haas enjoys with Ferrari, there has been suggestions the US-based outfit could give one of the Scuderia’s juniors some track time behind the wheel of an F1 car before the end of the 2020 season.

Haas is currently weighing up its driver line-up for 2021, with Steiner saying there are no “no-brainer” options for the team next year, which is open to potentially replacing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, both of whom are out of contract.

There are currently five Ferrari proteges competing in Formula 2 this year, with Schumacher, Ilott and Shwartzman all taking it in turns to lead the championship at some stage this season. All three currently sit within the top four of the drivers’ standings.

On Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix at Sochi, Steiner did not rule out the possibility of handing one of the Ferrari juniors an FP1 outing before the end of the season as it continues to evaluate its options for next year.

“We could, I don’t know yet,” said Steiner. “That’s more a Ferrari thing, if they ask us to help out.

“They are helping us out this year because we have got our issues this year with the COVID, so they are helping us and in the end, we’re helping each other.

“If they ask, I would be open to discussing it at least.”

The 2020 F2 season continues this weekend in Sochi, with Prema’s Schumacher leading the championship by eight points over UNI-Virtuosi racer Ilott.