After the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, Haas confirmed that its main sponsor, Uralkali, would stop appearing in their car just before the final day of testing in Barcelona.
The decoration of the team resembles the colors of the Russian flag due to said sponsor, however, on this Friday day it was modified by a completely white design.
Uralkali is co-owned by Nikita Mazepin’s father, Dmitry , and has been key to his son landing in Formula 1 thanks to his financial backing from the Russian company that has been Haas’ main financial backer since Mazepin joined the team in 2021.
Finally, the Russian pilot participated in the morning session on Friday as planned, but the team boss, Steiner , confirmed at a press conference that his future “had to be resolved”, adding that the team will review its union with Uralkali next week due to the current crisis.
Speaking to American journalist Bob Varsha of Speed City Broadcasting , the American team principal said that if Mazepin was ultimately unable to continue with them, the team would turn to their reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi to replace him.
“If Nikita can’t be behind the wheel of the car for one reason or another, the first call would be for Pietro,” Steiner said.
“Obviously he [has been] with us for these years. After that we would see what to do.”
“But obviously Pietro has stayed with us for a reason. These last few years we all needed a reserve driver, because of COVID-19 and he has always been there.”
“He knows the team and above all he knows the car to be able to get on from one day to the next. There is no one better than Pietro at the moment”.
Fittipaldi has contested two Formula 1 races with Haas , both at the end of the 2020 season, when he replaced Romain Grosjean at Sakhir and Abu Dhabi following the Frenchman’s shocking crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Furthermore, the Brazilian driver already got behind the wheel of a Haas VF-21 recently during post-season testing at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi.
In a post on his social networks, Mazepin wrote during the day on Friday that it was a difficult time and that he had no control over much of what was being said about him.
“I am choosing to focus on what I can control, working hard and giving my best for my Haas team,” the Russian wrote. “I give my deepest thanks for your understanding and support.”
Steiner pointed out during a press conference that “not everything depends on us here” regarding the future of Mazepin , since there are “governments involved and I have no power over them,” he said in closing.
