Formula 1: 5 possible replacements for Nikita Mazepin

Possible Nikita Mazepin replacements: No. 5 – Robert Shwartzman

Following a second place finish in the 2021 Formula 2 championship behind Oscar Piastri, Robert Shwartzman also finds himself without a Formula 1 seat in 2022.

Shwartzman is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and he is widely considered one of the top young Ferrari-tied drivers after winning the 2018 Toyota Racing Series championship and the 2019 Formula 3 Championship ahead of consecutive winning seasons in Formula 2.

If Haas want to go with a younger Ferrari driver best positioned for a Formula 1 opportunity in the near future already, then the 22-year-old Russian may be their best bet.

However, “Russian” may be what holds him back.

While he doesn’t have direct ties to Vladimir Putin like the Mazepin family, Shwartzman could still unfortunately be banned from Formula 1 simply because he is Russian after Ukraine’s motor racing federation has asked the FIA to ban all Russian drivers amid the ongoing war.

Even if it turns out that only Mazepin is axed and not all Russian drivers are banned, selecting Shwartzman at this particular point in time may not be the best PR move for Haas moving forward, as ridiculous as that may sound to the average fan.

But then again, the sport’s lone American team have proven many times before that they are willing to make some questionable moves when it comes to drivers and sponsors.

If Nikita Mazepin loses his seat with Haas, who will replace him for the 2022 Formula 1 season? Will it be one of these five drivers, or will somebody else get the call to fill in alongside Mick Schumacher? The season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 20 with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit.