With Nikita Mazepin’s future in Formula 1 under threat because of his connections to title sponsor Uralkali, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has confirmed who the Russian’s seat could be offered to.
Speaking to Speed City Broadcasting, Steiner said that should Mazepin not compete this season, Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi would be first in line to step up.
Fittipaldi, who is the grandson of two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, is entering his third season as Haas’ reserve driver.
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“If Nikita couldn’t drive for one or another reason, the first call would go to Pietro,” Steiner said.
“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.”
Mazepin participated in pre-season testing in Barcelona as planned, however, Haas ran with an all-white livery, removing the Uralkali name and logo from its cars as well as its Russia-inspired colours.