Russian Masepin allegedly loses cockpit at Haas

Created: 03/03/2022 17:53

Mick Schumacher (r) in conversation with his Russian teammate Nikita Masepin.

© James Gasperotti/ZUMA Wire/dpa

Mick Schumacher's Russian Formula 1 teammate Nikita Masepin apparently has to leave the US racing team Haas.

The television channel Sky reported on the allegedly fixed separation of the Americans from the 23-year-old.

Berlin – There is no confirmation of the process yet.

According to Sky, the American-Brazilian reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will take over the Masepin cockpit and will already be at the wheel in the upcoming test drives from March 10th to 12th in Bahrain.

Haas team boss Günther Steiner had left open the future of Masepin as a driver and the Russian mining company Uralkali as a sponsor last week.

Nikita Masepin's father Dmitry Masepin is the majority owner of Uralkali.

According to Sky, a separation from the main sponsor is now becoming more and more likely.

On the third and final day of testing on the Grand Prix circuit in Barcelona, ​​the team competed with a car painted entirely white and has already refrained from using the sponsor's advertising in the Russian national colors.

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After an extraordinary meeting the day before, against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Motor Sport Council decided that Masepin could continue to drive in the premier class of motor sport.

However, the Moscow native should only start as a neutral athlete "for the time being".

dpa