Steiner warns Alpine about Schumacher: 'I wouldn't do that'

Alpine announced on Monday that it is parting ways with Esteban Ocon. Pierre Gasly's contract is also expiring and it remains to be seen whether Alpine will renew his contract. Schumacher is one of the names mentioned as a future driver at Alpine. Steiner, who worked with Schumacher at Haas, would not be in favour.

"At the moment, no. As I said, at the moment, you need to try and get the best driver that is out there. As a works team, you need to do the best you can," Steiner said in the Red Flags Podcast.

Why Schumacher is not right for Alpine

Steiner spoke about the line-up before the announcement of Ocon's departure. Steiner himself would already not be in favour of keeping both drivers, due to the various clashes the two have had. Steiner does see that there are several drivers on the market who are of interest to Alpine.

"I need to think who's around. I don't think Sainz will go there, that is my opinion. There is Tsunoda. As Alpine, as a works team, you should have the money to be able to get the best driver on the market. That is what you need to try, and I think that, from the drivers on the market, Albon is gone, I think the next best driver that is on the market is obviously Sainz or Tsunoda. I would go after one of them."

Should neither of those two prove feasible, Steiner would still not recommend Schumacher as an option for Alpine. While Schumacher does drive in the World Endurance Championship for Alpine, the team also has drivers in the Alpine Academy. "They have got other drivers there, Jack Doohan and Victor Martins. They have got quite a few people there, they could look into it there if they do not get one of the big guys," Steiner concludes.