F1 News
Formula 2 champion of 2021 not in the picture as Mazepin's successor
- GPblog.com
Oscar Piastri doesn't seem to have a chance at a seat at Haas. The 2022 Formula 2 champion may be the best option for Haas on paper, but the Australian is not in the picture to succeed Nikita Mazepin.
At Haas, things are about to happen. The American team has already dumped the sponsor Uralkali and the corresponding livery and it seems more and more likely that Mazepin and his sponsor will have to leave. The Russian is still allowed by the FIA to race, but it seems that Haas itself makes the choice to relinquish Russian influence in the team.
No chance for Piastri
The 2021 Formula 2 champion, who also won the Formula 3 title in 2020, is sidelined in 2022. Piastri did not get a seat from Alpine in F1 and therefore has to make do with a reserve role. The departure of Mazepin seems an ideal opportunity to bring such a great talent to the front, but Australian journalist Mat Coch spoke with Piastri's management and let it be known that they are emphatic that Oscar will not drive for Haas.
Chatting with Oscar Piastris management, they're emphatic, Oscar will not drive for Haas. Not that he was/is a realistic consideration, but worth getting word from the horse's mouth.#F1
— Mat Coch (@matcoch) March 4, 2022
The chance was also extremely small because Piastri does not have a bag of money that Haas wants and he is also part of the Alpine junior team. In several tweets on Thursday, Haas seemed to hint at the arrival of Pietro Fittipaldi. The Brazilian is Haas' reserve driver and he suddenly appeared in a photo of a tweet from Haas on Thursday. He was also already congratulated by a sponsor of the team.