The possible return of the Swiss rider to Haas arose with the departure of Nikita Mazepin. However, Deletraz has gone ahead with further speculation and has announced that he has fixed plans for 2022 that he does not want to change.
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Louis Deletraz has confirmed that although he has the FIA Super License points needed to start in F1, he is not negotiating with the Haas stable about the vacancy in Mazepin. The former Swiss reserve pilot has a live contract for this year’s IMSA SportsCar Championship. The 24-year-old driver will compete in the colors of Tower Motorsport in the LMP2 category, where the next 12-hour race will take place at the Sebringen in March.
Deletraz left the Haas team in 2020, and although there was no indication that he would start again in Swiss colors, he became one of Mazepin’s potential successors in the guesswork of the past few days. That’s why Deletraz has decided to clarify his current situation and future plans on Twitter:
Hello everyone,
I get a lot of messages about the meeting that has been released at Haas in recent days. Yes, I do have the FIA Super License points I need to enter, but I am not negotiating with the team to return. I have already signed my contract for 2022, which makes me very happy. I wish the best to Haas and Pietro [Fittipaldi, a Haas tartalékpilótája] in these difficult times.
Hey everyone, I’m getting a lot of messages lately about that Haas seat. Yes I still have a super license but I am not in any talks with Haas. I already signed my 2022 contracts and very happy with it. All the best to the team and Pietro in this difficult situation.
— Louis Deletraz (@LouisDeletraz) March 7, 2022
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Haas found itself in a precarious position with the immediate departure of the main sponsor and Nikita Mazepin. Most likely, Pietro Fittipaldi, who was the team’s backup pilot last year, will be put behind the wheel.
The Brazilian-American racer replaced Romain Grosjean in 2020 following his horror accident in Bahrain.
Although Gene Haas has stated that he would definitely like an experienced pilot to replace Mazepin, Fittipaldi’s name still appears to be one of the most likely.
Nico Hülkenberg and Antonio Giovinazzi, however, have no contract but Super License points, so both riders could qualify if Haas decides to put an experienced pilot in the vacancy anyway.
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