Haas have endured further disruption to their pre-season preparations, with freight delays meaning they will be unable to run during Thursday morning's test session at the Bahrain International Circuit. Some of Haas' crucial cargo was held up in the United Kingdom earlier this week and, with required freight not arriving in Sakhir until Tuesday night, the team's start to the three-day test has been pushed back. "The team's freight arrived late last night to the circuit in Bahrain," read a short statement from Haas on their social media channels. "This delay will impact our programme but we are targeting being out on track for the second session [on] Thursday afternoon."
Fittipaldi steps in after Mazepin dropped
Meanwhile, Haas have confirmed that Pietro Fittipaldi will replace the ousted Nikita Mazepin for the start of this week's test. The Brazilian-American, the grandson of two-time F1 World Champion Emerson, has stood in as a reserve driver for Haas on two previous occasions, replacing the injured Romain Grosjean at the tail end of 2020. Fittipaldi will drive the Haas VF-22 left vacant by Mazepin, after the American-led squad severed ties with Russian title sponsor Uralkali – Mazepin's seat with the team was funded by the potash fertiliser company. With strict economic sanctions being applied to Russian companies in light of the country's military action in neighbouring Ukraine, Haas immediately pulled their Uralkali branding during pre-season testing in Barcelona, before announcing the severing of the contract. Haas have not yet confirmed who will replace Mazepin for the season ahead.
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The team's freight arrived late last night to the circuit in Bahrain. This delay will impact our programme but we are targeting being out on track for the second session Thursday afternoon with @PiFitti driving the VF-22. #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/Zppbjbkn8a — Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 9, 2022
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