Brazilian driver to replace Mick Schumacher at 2022 Abu Dhabi GP

Pietro Fittipaldi has two Haas appearances under his belt.

Haas reserve driver, Pietro Fittipaldi, will be standing in for Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher during opening practice sessions later on this season.

The Brazilian will replace Magnussen in Mexico, before Schumacher steps aside and allows him to take his place in Abu Dhabi.

Fittipaldi has twice raced for the Haas team, filling in for the injured Romain Grosjean after the Frenchman’s scary accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix towards the back end of 2020.

The 26-year-old’s appearances in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi that season are his only ones in Formula 1, so he is still eligible to be run as a rookie in practice sessions.

READ: Steiner: Fittipaldi will replace Schumacher at Haas in event of Ferrari call-up

A rookie is classified as a driver who has contested two or less races, and all 10 teams are required to run them this season.

In at least two free practice sessions, every full-time driver on the grid is required to step aside to be replace during one hour-long Friday session by a rookie.

Fittipaldi expressed his delight at being brought in by Guenther Steiner to get some more experience in an F1 car later in the year.

“I’m very happy to be driving the VF-22, and this time during race weekends – FP1 in Mexico and Abu Dhabi,” he said in a press release.

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“I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to putting in some comprehensive running for the team.”

READ: Romain Grosjean Won’t Race In Formula One Again After Fiery Crash

Haas are currently deciding who they want in their car next season, but Fittipaldi is not currently considered to be a driver they are looking at with any real intent.

Nico Hulkenberg is thought to be the main candidate if Steiner and Gene Haas decide to do away with Schumacher, whose performances have been much improved since the Canadian Grand Prix.

They cannot run Hulkenberg in their car this year though, as he is signed to Aston Martin as a reserve driver, and because he has completed more than two F1 races, he is not eligible for one of the mandated practice sessions anyway.