Haas: Fittipaldi to get 'first call' if Mazepin can't drive

Haas says its reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi would be its first option to replace at short notice incumbent Nikita Mazepin if the Russian driver loses his seat with the US outfit.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine this week, Haas felt compelled to remove its Russian title sponsor Uralkali and its colors from the team's 2022 car for the final day of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Team boss Guenther Steiner says Haas will conduct a full review, including a legal assessment, of its situation with Urakali next week, but all signs seem to point to the US outfit and the Russian fertilizer company owned by Dmitry Mazepin parting ways in a legal case of force majeure.

The split would also imply Nikita Mazepin's departure from the team, which opens the door for a new driver to replace the 22-year-old Russian.

In an interview with Speed City Broadcasting's Bob Varsha, Steiner said that if Mazepin is unable to drive, Fittipaldi would be first in line to fill the seat.

"If Nikita couldn’t drive for one or another reason, the first call would go to Pietro," said Steiner.

"Obviously, he [has been] with us for a few years, and then we would see what we do next.

"But I mean Pietro is always around with us for a reason. The last years, we needed a reserve driver, having COVID around, so he is always around.

"He knows the team, he knows the car to jump in for one day to the other. There is nobody better than Pietro around at the moment."

• Read also: Haas to 'sort out' Uralkali F1 future next week

The 25-year-old grandson of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi raced for Haas when he replaced an injured Romain Grosjean in the final two laps of the 2020 season.

Fittipaldi also tested for the US outfit at last December's post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Steiner revealed that the decision to strip its car of its Russian colors and sponsors was a joint call by himself and team owner Gene Haas.

"Yesterday morning, Gene and I were at breakfast and we discussed the situation, what happened during the night," he said.

"We just discussed it and talked it through and then you digest it. Then, when we got into the track, some of the partners told us they were unhappy with the situation, but they were behind us.

"We sat down with Gene and we just decided to take it off. It was very, very simple, because I think that is what we should have done and have done.

"I think everybody supports us. Everybody supports the action – we didn't have any negatives from it."

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