F1 News
The 2021 line-up: Will the billionaire make Haas an all-Russian team?
Haas have announced that both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will leave at the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season. Rumour has it that on Thursday we will also be informed of their replacements, but who will that be?
Another billionaire
Haas have relied on the qualities of Magnussen and Grosjean for the past four years but will be at the start of the Formula 1 season with an entirely new line-up from 2021. One name seems to have been filled in by everyone, but the question is whether that is a major reinforcement for Formula 1.
The name most associated with Haas is Nikita Mazepin. The son of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin would be the third driver in Formula 1 after Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll to be there due to his father's money extra large pot. Mazepin doesn't want to rely on talent. Like Latifi, he didn't win any step-up class in the run-up to F1.
Russian team
If Mazepin gets a chance at Haas, he could also be decisive in the choice for a second driver. You would say there might be a second driver with more experience next to Mazepin, but it could also be a Russian-tinted team with Ferrari junior Robert Shwartzman. In this way, the ties with engine supplier Ferrari are also tightened up and Russia is well on the F1 map.
Lots of choice
Haas don't have to look far for a driver with experience. Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are free on the market and George Russell also appears to be looking for a seat, now that Perez may be claiming his spot at Williams. Another option might be Daniil Kvyat, who would also make the team fully Russian, is likely to leave AlphaTauri but has plenty of experience under his belt.
Talents of Ferrari
However, the name most associated with Mazepin is that of Mick Schumacher. The German seemed to be on his way to Alfa Romeo, but in the past week, the link to Haas was made. As a Ferrari junior it is, of course, a good option, but earlier the German already seemed assured of a seat next to Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa.
An outsider is number two in the Formula 2 championship, Callum Ilott. The Brit doesn't have a rich or famous father and can not yet show off a title, but the fact that Haas wanted to have him tested at the Nürburgring may say enough. Is Ilott a contender or does Haas choose a different path?
This article was created in partnership with Tim Kraaij and first appeared on www.gpblog.com/nl.