Haas staff boss, Guenther Steiner has admitted that Pietro Fittipaldi is the almost certainly substitute ought to the staff have to drop Nikita Mazepin.
The Russian’s future with Haas, certainly F1, is beneath menace as a direct results of this week’s invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
As a part of international backlash in opposition to the invasion, which has seen governments worldwide challenge sanctions in opposition to Russia, all method of enterprise offers involving Russian cash are beneath scrutiny, no much less so than potash big Uralkali, which is owned by Mazepin’s father.
For the ultimate day of testing in Spain all Uralkali branding was faraway from the Haas automobiles and the staff admitted that it’s to resolve the way forward for its partnership with the corporate within the coming days.
If Uralkali goes it’s unthinkable that Nikita Mazepin – who’s already unpopular with a big group of followers – may proceed with the staff, or certainly in F1.
Talking to Velocity Metropolis Broadcasting, Guenther Steiner has admitted that Pietro Fittipaldi, who changed Romain Grosjean within the last two races of 2020, may step into the second Haas.
“If Nikita could not drive for one or another excuse, the primary name would go to Pietro,” mentioned Steiner. “Clearly, he has been with us for a number of years, after which we’d see what we do subsequent.
“Pietro is at all times round with us for a cause,” he added. “The final years, we wanted a reserve driver, having COVID round, so he’s at all times round.
“He is aware of the staff, he is aware of the automobile to leap in for someday to the opposite. There’s no person higher than Pietro round in the mean time.”
That final remark could increase eyebrows, particularly as Michael Andretti (and Liberty Media) is eager to deliver an American into F1 – and Haas is an American staff.
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