Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin will not be there next season. The team the Russian driver would drive for, Haas, is severing ties with him and also with title sponsor Uralkali.
It doesn’t really come as a big surprise anymore, but Haas F1 is now officially canceling its contract with driver Nikita Mazepin and also breaking with title sponsor Uralkali. This decision obviously has to do with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Haas does not give a detailed reason, but it already withdrew all sponsorship of the Russian Uralkali (including the colors of the Russian flag) from the car during the winter test in Barcelona after the invasion. Uralkali was founded by Nikita Mazepin’s father Dmitry and Mazepin’s position at Haas was linked to this sponsorship deal.
Haas has not yet specified who will replace Mazepin. Pietro Fittipaldi, the grandson of former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, seems to have the best chance. For Mazepin, there is probably no other option than to watch the coming season on TV. Last year, his first season in F1, he was almost invariably behind and also lost out to teammate Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl