Haas: We do not have to go looking for drivers they come to us

Haas is one team that is bullish about their prospects, claiming that they no longer have to seek drivers. This season the Ferrari-powered outfit is the best-of-the-rest, behind the Big Three teams and therefore their seats at a premium.

Word is that Romain Grosjean is likely to lose his drive unless he can keep out of trouble and really turn his incident packed season into one of consistency that is expected of a driver of his experience. Replacing the Frenchman will apparently be easy as drivers are now queuing up for a spot in the American outfit.

Team chief Guenther Steiner confirmed the state of play, "We do not have to go looking for drivers, they come to us."

Last year Haas were one of the very first teams to announce their driver line-up and it appears this year they also want to get that aspect of the business done and dusted long before this season ends.

"We are going to decide after the holidays what we are going to do, but at the moment we are not thinking about it. There are many people who enquire about our situation and it is part of my job to know what happens in the driver market," explained Steiner.

By all accounts, and deservedly so, Kevin Magnussen is likely to stay on for at least another year. The Dane has been solid this season, delivering the results consistently while his teammate does not.

Should Grosjean be shown the door at the end of this season, the team will have a myriad of driver options to consider.

Latest candidate to emerge is Sergio Perez who is likely to depart Force India and would be a good fit for the American team, from an experience perspective as well as the potential backing the Mexican would bring along and attract to the team.

Prior to his death, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne dreamt of a Maserati foray into Formula 1, looking to strike a deal with the Americans that would be very similar to the current deal between Sauber and Alfa Romeo.

Maserati branded Haas cars on the 2019 Formula 1 grid, for Magnussen and Antonio Giovinazzi, is a distinct possibility.

Carlos Sainz is another option that the 'Spanish brigade' are lobbying the team to consider.

Steiner added,"One of the first movements to watch is what happens at Ferrari and Renault and what they will do in the future. Their decisions will be triggers for the market because then we will have facts."