During the final day of Formula 1 testing at Barcelona, the Haas F1 team ran a plain white wrap on its car, electing not to advertise a Russia-based company in Uralkali amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The company, owned by the father (Dmitri Mazepin) of Haas driver Nikita Mazepin provided primary sponsorship for the team until that point.
On Thursday, the team parted ways with Mazepin according to a report from Sky Sports F1.
The tweet translated reads: Haas has separated from Nikita Mazepin according to Sky information. Reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi is to take over the cockpit from Mazepin and will already be at the wheel during the tests in Bahrain.
Haas hat sich nach Sky Informationen von Nikita Mazepin getrennt.
Ersatzfahrer Pietro Fittipaldi soll das Cockpit von Mazepin übernehmen und bereits bei den Testfahrten in Bahrain am Steuer sitzen. #skyf1
Alle Infos auf https://t.co/LBFUOABsTj pic.twitter.com/DdPyu3xoBf
— Sky Sport Formel 1 (@skysportformel1) March 3, 2022
The team’s reserve driver, Pietro Fittipaldi, is set to take over the reigns of the car for the 2022 season. In his two starts with the team at the end of the 2020 season, Fittipaldi finished P17 and P19.
The 2022 Formula 1 season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, March 20. It can be seen in the United States at 10:00 a.m. CT on ESPN.
