Haas has contacted Daniel Ricciardo about replacing Mick Schumacher at the team for 2023, ESPN reports.
The Australian has been flung into the Formula 1 driver market as his current employer McLaren looks to agree a settlement that will see Ricciardo end his contract early and pave the way for Oscar Piastri to take his seat.
While all this emerged after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the start of the summer break, ESPN understands Haas chief Guenther Steiner contacted Ricciardo on July 31, the day the race in Budapest was held.
This comes as the American team considers their options as to who will partner Kevin Magnussen next season.
While Schumacher has improved in recent races, scoring his first points at Silverstone and in Spielberg, some questions still remain after several big crashes earlier in the year.
And with Fernando Alonso confirmed as Sebastian Vettel's replacement at Aston Martin next year, German media says Haas believes they can take their time to reach a decision.
Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, with the Italian set to complete FP1 sessions at the team in Monza and Austin.
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Ricciardo does have another option in a return to Alpine or he could simply try and stay at McLaren as only he can ultimately make the decision to leave early.
In a recent interview with SpeedCafe, the eight-time Grand Prix winner pointed to the unpredictability of what was next as one reason he is still motivated to continue in F1.
"I believe I still thrive off it because I still believe I belong [in Formula 1] and can do it. That’s what really gets me jacked," he said.
“And the love of it, as well as knowing any weekend it could be there, it could be around the corner.
“Monza last year…a week before at Zandvoort nobody was predicting that, not even myself, so even just the thought of a weekend like that could be one week away, it’s pretty cool.”
And though the past few years have been difficult for Ricciardo, who also turned 33 last month, he also sees hope from the example of Sergio Perez, who looked set to leave F1 after 2020 only to get his big chance at Red Bull.
“I was saying it when I was 27, ‘ah, I’m getting older!’ – in a way, yes, I’m getting older, but I think also I know a bit more about the sport now and I know things take time,” he told Motorsport.com.
“We all believe we can win. So it’s like, well I want to win tomorrow but it’s not always like that. Even now, talking about 2024 or 2025, in a way it’s hard to think that far ahead. But it will come around quickly.
“You also take like little things from if it’s a Perez, when his career looked over and now he’s potentially fighting for a World Championship. The sport can change so quickly.”
