Callum Ilott confirmed that he won’t compete in Formula 1 next year, effectively pointing toward Haas confirming their 2021 driver lineup.
Callum Ilott, who trails only fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member Mick Schumacher in the Formula 2 driver standings heading into the final race weekend of the season at the outer layout of the Bahrain International Circuit, has confirmed that he will not compete in Formula 1 next year.
The 22-year-old had been linked to seats at Alfa Romeo Racing and Haas, given their ties to Ferrari.
But the former confirmed no changes to their current lineup of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
The latter have not solidified their driver lineup for next year with both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen not returning for what would have been a fifth consecutive season at teammates. Grosjean has competed for the team since they entered Formula 1 in 2016.
Nikita Mazepin has signed a multi-year contract with the team, but the other seat remains open. Mazepin brings substantial financial backing from his father Dmitry, the core shareholder and chairman of Uralchem Integrated Chemicals Company.
Ilott had been slated to participate in the first practice session for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in October, but that session was called off due to poor weather. He had been slated to drive for Haas in this session.
Here is what Ilott had to say about not ascending to Formula 1 next year.
https://twitter.com/callum_ilott/status/1333355848110923776
Should the UNI-Virtuosi driver manage to beat Schumacher to win the 2020 Formula 2 title, he would be ineligible to return to the series in 2021.
He currently trails the Prema Racing driver by 14 points with one feature race and one sprint race remaining on the schedule at the 11-turn, 2.202-mile (3.544-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain.
This announcement is yet another indication of Haas’s driver lineup for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
With only one Ferrari junior driver set to receive a promotion from Formula 2 to Formula 1 for the 2021 season, Schumacher has long been rumored as the only one to get the call up, and Ilott’s lack of a promotion all but confirms that.
After Alfa Romeo solidified their driver lineup with no changes for 2021, eliminating Schumacher from contention, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was tipped to sign with Haas.
Multiple sources have already reported that a deal has been signed, but that the sport’s lone American team have simply not yet publicized the news, and that news should be close following Ilott’s announcement and the confirmation of Mazepin.
While he won’t compete in Formula 1 next year, Ilott is set to drive for Alfa Romeo in the postseason test at Yas Marina Circuit in mid-December after the 2020 Formula 1 season concludes at the venue.