Gene Haas has a shortlist of 10 drivers he is considering to spearhead his team's entry next year, with the American keen to sign someone "currently competing on the starting grid" in F1.
Haas F1 joins the grid next season but is yet to confirm its driver line-up, though its partnership with engine supplier Ferrari has fuelled speculation about test drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Esteban Gutierrez. Le Mans 24 Hour winner Nico Hulkenberg is believed to be a target, though the German is also a potential Ferrari signing for 2016 if it does not retain Kimi Raikkonen and cannot sign Valtteri Bottas from Williams.
Haas, whose NASCAR team Stewart-Haas has won two drivers' championships in the stock car series, is in no rush to finalise his line-up but has made it clear F1 experience is vital.
"We have a list of 10 drivers we are watching," Haas told Motorsport.com. "We'll talk to them in particular and we will see what works for us. We definitely want to have drivers who are currently competing on the starting grid, people with experience."
The relationship between Haas and Ferrari has been labelled "very intelligent" by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, with the American outfit using the Maranello wind tunnel to develop its 2016 challenger. That process was deemed perfectly above board during a recent visit by the FIA's Marcin Budkowski.
The precedent set by Haas and Ferrari may well influence future teams wishing to enter the sport. The FIA recently opened another tender for an additional team to join the grid in 2016 or 2017.