The relationship between Haas F1 and its Russian sponsor and driver turned untenable following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the proprietor of the United States-based Formula One workforce mentioned Sunday.
Gene Haas additionally mentioned his workforce was financially steady regardless of the choice on Saturday to lower ties with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and sponsor Uralkali. The Russian fertilizer firm is owned by Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin, an in depth ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There was a lot of intense criticism about the Ukrainian invasion and it was just getting overwhelming. We can’t deal with all that, our other sponsors can’t deal with all that,” Haas advised The Associated Press on the beginning grid at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Logos for Haas Automation, the CNC machine instrument manufacturing firm Haas based, can be on his two vehicles at this week’s F1 take a look at in Bahrain. Haas mentioned reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will fill Mazepin’s seat in Bahrain, however he wasn’t clear on a everlasting alternative.
“We’re in the process of looking at several candidates, we’ll see who is available and what we have to deal with, but we’ll have somebody by Wednesday,” Haas mentioned. “Pietro will definitely be in it, that’s what he’s for, he’s the test driver.”
Fittipaldi is the grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi and ran two races for Haas in 2020 because the alternative for injured driver Romain Grosjean. The 25-year-old was born in Miami and holds twin citizenship in Brazil and the U.S.
But simply because Haas mentioned Fittipaldi can be within the automobile in Bahrain, that doesn’t imply he’ll be teammates this yr with Mick Schumacher. Haas final season overhauled his lineup with rookies Mazepin and Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
Haas’ marketing strategy allowed for a troublesome 2021 season — Mazepin and Schumacher had been at the again of the grid almost each time on the observe — however the introduction of a brand new automobile and an improved engine this season may make the workforce extra aggressive. The Haas group additionally believes the 22-year-old Schumacher could be a world celebrity.
“I think we’re looking. I think we’d obviously like to get someone with a bit more actual experience,” Haas advised the AP. “We simply have to see what’s out there.”
Haas also insisted that his CNC company has always been the primary source of sponsorship for the F1 team and that Uralkali was only “the title sponsor” in 2021 when both F1 cars were branded in the colors of the Russian flag. The Haas team last month scrambled to remove the Uralkali branding from its cars when Russia invaded Ukraine at the same time F1 was testing in Barcelona.
Haas crew members were seen scraping the logos off the team trucks after the second of three days of testing, and the cars were plain white for the final session. It was important, Haas said, to remove the branding immediately even as the team studied its contracts to learn its options.
“Haas has always been the major, primary sponsor, I don’t know why people said it became a Russian team. Haas Automation was always on the car,” he said.
He has dumped Uralkali but said the team is fine. Haas also co-owns a top NASCAR team with Tony Stewart.
“We’re good. We’re fine. We’d like more money, of course, but we’re fine,” he mentioned. “This just gives us a bigger negative number.”
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