Formula 1: Haas to miss part of last pre-season test because of transport issues

The US-based Haas team will miss at least the first morning of this week's final pre-season test in Bahrain because of freight delays.

Technical problems with a cargo plane followed by administrative issues finding alternatives meant the team's parts have arrived in Bahrain late.

The team hope to get the car on track in time for the afternoon session after the test starts on Thursday morning.

Reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will be at the wheel on the first day.

Haas have not finalised the identity of the driver who will replace Russian Nikita Mazepin, whose contract was terminated at the weekend in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

The Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet has reported that the team's former driver Kevin Magnussenexternal-link, who left Haas at the end of 2020, is a candidate for the seat.

The information has been verified by BBC Sport, but there remain hurdles to clear for the 29-year-old.

Chief among them are the existing contracts he holds in sports-car racing with the Ganassi team in the US and Peugeot's nascent Le Mans programme.

Magnussen, who is believed to be the team's favoured option, would have to find an accommodation with both entities before he could commit to Haas as a number of grands prix clash with events or tests he has scheduled in endurance racing.

Other candidates for the seat include former Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi and experienced veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who is currently Aston Martin's reserve.

Fittipaldi is no more than an outsider in the context of the race seat.

Meanwhile, Mazepin said on Wednesday that he did not feel his dismissal was «fair» as he had committed to race as a neutral, as permitted by F1's governing body the FIA.

Mazepin, speaking during a news conference, said