Haas confirm F2 star Pietro Fittipaldi will drive for them at Bahrain testing this week as he bids to take sacked Nikita Mazepin's seat for 2022... but team will MISS the first session after cargo delays left both of their cars stranded in the UK
- Haas confirm Formula Two star Pietro Fittipaldi will test the new car in Bahrain
- However, Haas won't take part in the first testing session due to a freight delay
- F1 team severed ties last week with Mazepin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Haas have confirmed that Formula Two star Pietro Fittipaldi will test the new car in Bahrain on Thursday following the departure of sacked Russian driver Nikita Mazepin – but announced they won't take part in the first session due to a freight delay.
The American-owned F1 team will sit out the morning session after a cargo plane due to deliver its freight to Bahrain was delayed by a technical issue, setting them back ahead of the new campaign.
A spokesman said on Wednesday the cars had arrived late at the Sakhir circuit on Tuesday before confirming Fittipaldi as one of their drivers for the session.
![Haas have confirmed Formula Two star Pietro Fittipaldi will test the new car in Bahrain](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/09/09/55135743-10593535-image-m-22_1646818817072.jpg)
![Haas severed ties last week with Nikita Mazepin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/09/09/55135741-10593535-image-m-23_1646818825826.jpg)
Haas confirmed Formula Two star Pietro Fittipaldi (left) will test the new car in Bahrain following the sacking of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin (right)
'This delay will impact our programme but we are targeting being out on track for the second session Thursday afternoon with Pietro Fittipaldi driving the VF-22,' he said, giving no further details.
Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time world champion Emerson, stood in for Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix after the Frenchman's fiery crash.
Haas severed ties last week with Mazepin, 23, and title sponsor Uralkali, owned by his billionaire father Dmitry, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The team were helped towards their decision by Motorsport UK declaring no Russian-linked competitors would be allowed to compete in this country, making Mazepin ineligible for the British Grand Prix. Haas believe their finances can survive the loss of Uralkali’s annual contribution of £20million.
![Haas won't take part in the first testing session in Bahrain on Thursday due to a freight delay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/09/09/55135887-10593535-image-a-34_1646819232481.jpg)
Haas won't take part in the first testing session in Bahrain on Thursday due to a freight delay
Mazepin, 23, hit back on social media following his sacking, saying: ‘I am very disappointed. The ruling from the FIA plus my ongoing willingness to accept the conditions proposed were completely ignored, and no process was followed in this unilateral step.’
Haas finished last in 2021 and were the only team not to score a point after focusing fully on developing their car for this year's major rule changes.
The team have yet to say who will race alongside German Mick Schumacher when the season starts in Bahrain on March 20.
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