Formula 1: 5 possible replacements for Nikita Mazepin
By Asher Fair
With doubts about Nikita Mazepin’s future in Formula 1, which drivers could replace him at Haas for the 2022 season if he is dropped?
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, serious doubts have arisen about the future of Haas driver Nikita Mazepin in Formula 1. His father, Dmitry, is the CEO of Uralchem, which holds a controlling stake in Russian fertilizer company Uralkali. Dmitry has direct ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Uralkali has served as the title sponsor of the Haas since last year.
Haas already stripped the Uralkali/Russian branding from their cars and pretty much everything to do with the team ahead of the third and final day of the preseason test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week, further casting doubt on the 22-year-old’s future in the sport.
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A final decision is expected to be made this week, according to team principal Guenther Steiner, as there are several legal issues involved with the potential removal of Uralkali as a sponsor.
Should Mazepin be out, who might replace him alongside Mick Schumacher for the upcoming season? Here are five possibilities.
Possible Nikita Mazepin replacements: No. 1 – Pietro Fittipaldi
While it might not be the best choice or a long-term selection, Pietro Fittipaldi is the easy option here, and Steiner has confirmed that he would be the team’s first choice if Mazepin has indeed driven his final race in Formula 1.
Fittipaldi is set to enter his third season as the team’s official reserve driver, and he already has race experience, having filled in twice for the team after Romain Grosjean’s fiery crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit.
Given the weakness of the VF-20, he scored respectable finishes in both races, placing 17th in the Sakhir Grand Prix at a different layout of the same circuit and 19th in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
How great would it be to have a Schumacher and a Fittipaldi on the grid, and with the same team?