Berlin (AP) – The Formula 1 team Haas is looking for a new teammate for Mick Schumacher who is as experienced as possible after the Russian Nikita Masepin was kicked out.
The Brazilian reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi (25) will sit in the cockpit at the last tests in Bahrain this week, but according to owner Gene Haas, the racing team is examining “several candidates” for the regular place. “We’d like someone with a little more real experience. We’ll have to see who’s available,” Haas told the AP.
The team had announced the separation from 23-year-old Masepin and Russian title sponsor Uralkali on Saturday. Masepin’s father, Dmitri, is a co-owner of the company. “There was a lot of heavy criticism because of the Ukraine invasion, it got too much. We can’t deal with all that, neither can our other sponsors,” said team owner Haas.
The US entrepreneur assured that the team would not be in trouble as a result of the separation from the Russian sponsor. “We’re fine. Of course we’d like more money, but we’re fine,” said Haas. His company has always been the main sponsor. “I don’t know why people said it was a Russian team,” said the 69-year-old. After Uralkali got involved, Haas last drove cars in the Russian national colors.
Michael Schumacher’s son Mick is entering his second Formula 1 season with the racing team. The team was left behind last year, for the 22-year-old it should be an apprenticeship year. In the new season with heavily changed rules, Schumacher hopes to regularly place in the points.