Formula 1's new-for-2016 team, Haas, is hoping to reveal its first driver by the end of next month, as the squad inches closer to its debut in the sport.

Gene Haas' eponymous outfit will join the 10 current teams next year but has yet to announce either of its drivers.

Esteban Gutierrez is understood to be the leading candidate, though Haas has spoken with several other racers regarding the vacant 2016 slots.

"We are talking with about 10 people, some higher up the list, some lower, but it is difficult to know who is available as it hasn’t been decided who is going where yet, so everyone is talking," said team boss Gunther Steiner.

"I think we will make a decision by the end of summer so we can prepare the driver, and to explain what we are doing as we are new as well - he needs to help us as well.

"By September I hope we have a decision for one, if not two, but we have interested candidates and that is nice for us, they talk to us seriously and I hope we can pull some of them off."

Steiner says that the drivers which Haas has held discussions with have been receptive to the new project.

"It was a good response, nobody was like ‘hey, this is new I don’t want to go there’, they were like ‘hey, tell me what you are doing, it sounds like a good programme Mr Haas is doing here.'"