The Haas team, which competes in the Formula 1 World Championship, announced this Saturday morning the dismissal with immediate effect of Nikita Mazepin, who in 2022 had to face his second season in the championship as a partner of Mick Schumacher.
The North American structure, owned by Gene Haas, makes this decision as a reaction to the offensive by Russian troops, who have been invading Ukraine since February 24.
The departure of Mazepin goes hand in hand with that of Uralkali, the chemical products company of the runner's father, and which, since its premiere in 2021, has served as the team's main sponsor.
The departure of the rider, last classified in the points table last year, materializes just one week before the last winter tests to be held in Bahrain, where the first stop on the calendar will take place on March 20.
TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 5, 2022
“Haas has chosen to end its contract with sponsor Uralkali and driver Nikita Mazepin.
As part of the F1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine, and hopes that the conflict will be resolved in a peaceful way."
At this point it is still unknown who will be chosen to get on the car that remains free, even though one of the candidates who has more numbers for it is Pietro Fittipaldi, Emerson's grandson, twice world champion in 1972 (Lotus) and 1974 (McLaren).
Haas' initiative follows the inertia of many international competitions and promoters, which have banned Russian athletes from competing.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA), however, limited itself to announcing that no pilot was going to be able to race with the license of that country or under its flag.
Liberty Media, F1 promoter, reported as soon as the conflict broke out that the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for the end of September, was not going to be able to take place under the current circumstances.
Two days ago, the company confirmed that it does not plan to race there again.
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