The drivers who could replace Mazepin at Haas in 2022

Less than a month away from the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain, the 2022 Formula 1 grid may not yet be final. Following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, numerous sanctions targeting Moscow are being implemented worldwide. Sport is not exempt, and Formula 1 is directly affected. After announcing the suspension of the Russian Grand Prix, the FIA may be led to deny Nikita Mazepin, the only Russian driver in Formula 1, the opportunity to compete in the season.

In this case, who would be chosen to replace the Haas driver? Should Günther Steiner prioritize youth or experience? A driver under contract with the team or a loaned driver? The only certainty is that the Italian manager would have plenty of options to choose from.

The first name that comes to mind is unsurprisingly that of Pietro Fittipaldi. As the team’s third driver, he already knows how it functions and the people who make it up. Furthermore, he has the advantage of having already competed in a Grand Prix with the American team as a replacement for Romain Grosjean following the Frenchman’s terrible accident at the end of 2020. The Brazilian has a solid experience in motorsport as he has already raced in the World Series Formula V8, DTM, Formula 3, and IndyCar.

Other option, Haas can tap into the talent pool of its engine supplier, the Ferrari Driver Academy.

After three seasons as a starter at Alfa Romeo, Antonio Giovinazzi has been benched for the 2022 season. This year, he combines the role of Ferrari’s third driver with that of a starting driver in Formula E. In addition to being an experienced driver, the Italian could help Haas negotiate a lower engine contract and therefore offset, or at least reduce, the impact of the likely withdrawal of its main sponsor, Uralkali.

This financial argument is also valid for Callum Ilott, another driver from the Ferrari academy. After an excellent 2020 Formula 2 season that saw him finish second in the championship behind Mick Schumacher, the British driver was at one point linked to a full-time seat in a Ferrari-powered team in 2021. With those doors closed, the Cambridge native has ventured into IndyCar for a few races while also serving as a test driver for Ferrari. A full-time seat in Formula 1 would be a great opportunity for someone who is considered highly promising on the other side of the English Channel.

One last possibility for Haas would be to borrow a third driver from a competing team.

Among them, Oscar Piastri is undoubtedly the one who deserves to be given a race seat the most. The Australian driver became the F3 champion in 2020 in his first season in the category, and then repeated the feat in Formula 2 the following year. For 2022, Alpine’s third driver had the opportunity to secure a seat at Alfa Romeo before Guanyu Zhou was chosen over him. The question now is whether Alpine is willing to finance Haas to have their driver compete.

Among other reserve drivers who could fill Mazepin’s seat, Nyck de Vries and Nico Hülkenberg present strong arguments. The former could have been in the Williams this season. The Mercedes reserve driver can rely on his manager Toto Wolff to help him find a place on the grid. However, on the other hand, Mercedes also counts on him in Formula E since he is currently leading the championship after winning it last season.

For Nico Hülkenberg, it would be a very pleasant surprise. Equipped with great experience, the German driver is considered a strong driver who has never been given the opportunity to showcase his skills in a high-performance car throughout his career. His last Grand Prix appearances date back to 2020 at Racing Point, when he replaced the team’s drivers one by one who were affected by Covid-19 in three races. At Haas, he would bring his experience and speed, and could help his compatriot Mick Schumacher grow in the pinnacle of motorsport. Like with Alpine and Mercedes, the financial aspect could be a stumbling block for Aston Martin, his employer, in loaning out their in-house driver.

Günther Steiner may have to make a very important decision in the coming hours and days. With the season approaching rapidly, the FIA’s next decisions regarding Nikita Mazepin’s future in Formula 1 should not be long in coming.