Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin axed by Haas with Pietro Fittipaldi set to replace him: Nikita Mazepin is reportedly set to be axed by Haas. Pietro Fittipaldi will be set to take his place for the upcoming 2022 Formula 1 season. This decision comes after Russia invaded their neighboring country, Ukraine. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
An official statement could come any time which will see Fittipaldi replacing Mazepin. It will be the Brazilian who gets to test the car at the Bahrain Pre-season testing. Fittipaldi is the reserve driver for Haas in 2022 but now can get the call up to be their driver.
Formula 1: Russian driver Nikita Mazepin axed by Haas with Pietro Fittipaldi set to replace him
Pietro is the grandson of two-time F1 champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, who retired in 1980. Pietro is a double Indy 500 winner and also stepped in for Romain Grosjean for two races in 2020 when he crashed at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
🚨| Haas have decided that Nikita Mazepin will not continue with the team, with Pietro Fittipaldi stepping in to replace him. The official announcement is expected soon, as the Brazilian will also be behind the wheel for the Bahrain pre season testing. #f1zone
— F1 Zone (@FormulaOneZone) March 3, 2022
It’s been a week since Russian President, Vladimir Putin launched a military attack on Ukraine. Around a million people are attempting to flee from the country. Meanwhile, the death toll has crossed hundreds.
F1 even took the decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix which was scheduled in September this year. The contract with the Russian Grand Prix has also been terminated. Now, there will be no F1 race in Russia in the coming future.
Formula 1: Russian driver Nikita Mazepin axed by Haas with Pietro Fittipaldi set to replace him
Also Read: F1 Russian GP: Russian Grand Prix’s contract has been terminated after the Russia-Ukraine war
But, FIA had a meeting earlier this week with the World Motor Sport Council. They gave a green signal to Russian and Belarusian drivers to race under the neutral FIA flag. However, British Grand Prix then banned Russian and Belarusian drivers from competing at Silverstone in 2022.
Formula 1: Haas without Uralkali stickers on Day 3 at the pre-season testing at BarcelonaHaas even took off the Uralkali stickers from day 3 of the pre-season testing at Barcelona. Guenther Steiner said, “We have other resources, we go on as we planned at the beginning of the year. We took off some stickers, that’s what we did here for these tests.”
Uralkali is owned by Nikita Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin. If the decision is officially announced then it would call time on Mazepin’s short F1 career.
Formula 1: Russian driver Nikita Mazepin axed by Haas with Pietro Fittipaldi set to replace him