Formula 1: Top 3 options to replace Nikita Mazepin

Top replacement options for Nikita Mazepin: No. 1 – Pietro Fittipaldi

By far the top replacement option for Nikita Mazepin, and by far the most likely option, is Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi. Team principal Guenther Steiner confirmed that he is the driver to whom they would turn first if ties do indeed end up being cut with the 22-year-old Russian.

There is a reason why Haas have kept Fittipaldi on the roster as their reserve driver for the third straight season; it is their belief that he is best suited to step in should either one of their two primary drivers need to miss any time.

With Mazepin not only set to miss time but be completely axed from the team just before the start of the new season, this gives Fittipaldi an amazing opportunity to step into a full-time driver role and prove his worth over the course of an entire 23-race season.

And with this promotion to full-time driver, which is something that seems to have already been indicated by multiple parties, Haas would have two legendary names in their 2022 driver lineup with Fittipaldi and Schumacher.

Fittipaldi already has Formula 1 experience as well, having competed in the final two races of the 2020 season for Haas after Romain Grosjean’s fiery crash in the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit.

At a different layout of the same venue, Fittipaldi finished in a respectable 17th place. In the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, he finished in 19th.

Bahrain International Circuit is scheduled to host the final testing session of the preseason from Thursday, March 10 to Saturday, March 12, and it is scheduled to host the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, March 20.