Schumacher and Mazepin given equal status by Haas

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has confirmed Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will have equal status at the team this year.

The American-owned outfit languished at the back-of-the-pack last season, with Mick Schumacher's defensive performance in Hungary and qualifying heroics in Turkey the only semblance of highlights across the campaign.

An early switch to development on the VF-22 hopes to improve the fortunes for the two drivers entering their second seasons in the sport.

Schumacher enjoyed stronger performances, although Nikita Mazepin's father Dmitry Mazepin is a major driving force behind the team's presence on the grid, yet the team has ruled out favouring either driver.

"Both drivers are equal in our team," insisted Steiner.

"They have equal status contracts so there will be no leader. It's about who is doing a better job in practice and qualifying.

"Then when you do that, in the race, when you start in front you are automatically in a better position. But the starting point every weekend is the same - there will be no number one or number two driver."

Regarding the targets for his drivers in their second campaigns in the sport, Steiner explained: "The expectation is just to be able to fight for points, to fight with the other drivers in Formula 1.

"They have had one year, we always were very open that the expectations last year were not high but it gave them the opportunity to learn and establish them in Formula 1.

"Now it is the year we have to prove we are on the right track with the drivers."

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