Mazepin to kick off Haas’ Barcelona running

Nikita Mazepin will have the honour of starting Haas’ pre-season programme in the VF-22 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Haas were first to stage their launch event ahead of the 2022 season, although it turned out to be a livery and design launch with the true VF-22 not revealed.

The real car will hit the track in Barcelona, with the first group shakedown for all the teams taking place from February 23-25.

That will be followed by the official pre-season test in Bahrain from March 10-12.

So with only three days per driver to get to grips with their 2022 machinery, which has been designed to overhauled regulations, every lap on the track will be key.

Back on track real soon

Confirming our line up for this week’s pre-season session in Barcelona #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/nPhN3WoJGP

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 20, 2022

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For Haas, it will be Mazepin who heads onto the track first, taking the VF-22 around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in the morning before handing over to team-mate Mick Schumacher.

For the following two days, that schedule will alternate, with Schumacher handling the Thursday AM session before handing over to Mazepin, then reverting back again for the third and final day.

The 2021 season was dismal for Haas, with Schumacher and Mazepin unable to score a point in the under-developed VF-21 in what was the