Haas: 'Fittipaldi in action in Bahrain, but still looking further'

Pietro Fittipaldi will replace Nikita Mazepin at Haas during the test days in Bahrain. Gené Haas made this known to the Associated Press Informed. However, the Brazilian is not the first choice for the rest of the season.

Haas has severed ties with Russian sponsor Uralkali and has also decided to throw out the driver with whom the sponsor came with - Mazepin. So the American team has to look for a replacement and has found one for the winter test in Bahrain. Test driver Fittipaldi will be competing on behalf of Haas.

Coming of Fittipaldi

"We are looking at different candidates, we will see who is available and what we are dealing with, but we will have someone by Wednesday. Pietro will definitely be in it, that's what he's there for, he's the test driver," the team owner said. Still, Pietro is not the favorite for the rest of the season.

"I think of course we want someone with a bit more experience. We just have to see what's available." In that respect, it is not surprising that Antonio Giovinazzi has come into the picture at the Haas team. The Italian has ties to Ferrari and was sidelined by Alfa Romeo at the end of 2021. For Haas, it could potentially mean a discount on Ferrari engines plus a few years of F1 experience in the car.