The crisis between Russia and Ukraine is putting Nikita Mazepin’s presence on the grid for the 2022 Formula 1 season at risk. During the Barcelona testing session, Haas promptly made the decision to remove all references to the sponsor Uralkali and the Russian flag from the car, while Nikita Mazepin continued the planned work with the team, however canceling the meetings with the media.
Team principal Gunther Steiner clarified that no decision can be considered official before the meetings between the legal offices of the parties involved, but hinted that at the moment the relationship between Haas and the Russian partners, both financial and Mazepin himself, will be subject to evaluations.
“There are no guarantees from any of the parties involved – explained Gunther Steiner – because in this scenario it is not entirely up to us, governments are involved and we have no power on this front. We have to wait and see how the situation will develop, it is an obstacle that suddenly appeared on the road that we did not expect”.
According to information collected in the Barcelona paddock, the owner of the team, Gene Haas, seems willing to close all relations with the Russian front: it is a position that, in addition to having an impact on the financial front (but here Steiner has reassured everyone regarding the total stability of the programs of the team) will involve the choice of a driver that will have to replace Nikita Mazepin starting with the second pre-season testing session in Bahrain.
Yesterday Gunther Steiner did not deny having considered every scenario, indicating Pietro Fittipaldi (the team’s third driver for three years) as the first option that will be evaluated. The 25-year-old Brazilian has already competed in two Grands Prix with Haas two years ago, when he was called to replace Romain Grosjean after the dramatic accident in Bahrain.
Pietro Fittipaldi remains one of the possible solutions, but it would not be at the top of the Haas priority list, as could be deduced from Gunther Steiner’s comments.
The first candidate seems to be Antonio Giovinazzi, a figure who would fit very well with the needs of the team, being linked to Ferrari (with which Haas has a close collaboration) and having raced in his last Grand Prix just over two months ago in Abu Dhabi.
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The Ferrari-backed Italian driver has just started his Formula E program with the Dragon team, but in he receives the opportunity to get a place on the Formula 1 grid, there is always an exit clause that would allow him to close contracts and seize the opportunity quickly.
The lack of seats has greatly reduced the number of drivers who can boast recent experience in Formula 1, and in the current situation two potential candidates such as Daniil Kvyart and Ferrari junior Robert Shwartzman are in danger of being excluded at the start precisely because of their passport.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto previously admitted that “opportunities” should exist for Antonio Giovinazzi to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2023, but the Italian driver could receive this chance earlier as a result of Haas’ situation.
Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri is linked to Alpine, and although the French manufacturer may also be potentially interested in loaning the Australian for a season, Haas will hardly agree to act as a training ground for a driver who has a future already secured by other teams.
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