Domenicali still in F1 with the new Haas team?

Stefano Domenicali could continue his Formula 1 career with Gene Haas' new team. Gunther Steiner, former Jaguar and Red Bull boss, is also said to be involved in the new US team which has just secured a place in F1 for 2015 or 2016.

The chassis should be produced by Dallara and the most likely debut year currently appears to be 2016. “We have the possibility of starting in 2016 if we are not convinced that we can race professionally for 2015” admitted Steiner.

Some managers of the Haas team should go to Maranello soon to discuss a possible supply of the power unit with Marco Mattiacci, new head of Ferrari Sports Management.

Haas is looking for a partner that can provide “transmission, KERS, suspension and steering wheel” in one package.

“Our main task will be to focus on the aerodynamics, the chassis, and competing,” added Haas.

The project has only recently officially started but has already received its first criticisms. According to Juan Pablo Montoya, Haas is "crazy" for not having planned a European base for the F1 team. The team will in fact still be managed in the NASCAR team facility in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Former pilot John Watson is of the same opinion: “Why be based in North America when everything has to fly from Europe to America for assembly and then be transported back to Europe? They are already starting off on the wrong foot with a base in North Carolina.”

Haas, however, plans to have a satellite facility in Europe while Steiner explained that having the headquarters in the USA is possible: “The cars left Europe this year for the first tests in Bahrain. Then they flew from Bahrain to Australia and from Australia to Malaysia, then to Bahrain for the race and then to China.”

Steiner explained that the updates will be sent by the team directly to the race tracks: “It doesn't make much difference to be based in America or Europe” he explained.

Steiner did not rule out hiring Domenicali while the involvement of Norbert Haug appears unlikely: “I think Haug is dedicating himself mainly to DTM commentary, Stefano I have no idea what he wants to do in the future. But I'm sure we will talk to him, never say never, because they are both nice people and have been in this environment for a long time and their experience is certainly a value."