If Nikita Mazepin can't continue to race for Haas, then the most likely candidate to replace him would be Nathan. (1:31)
The contract with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was terminated by the team.
The decision was taken in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and means no Russians will be allowed to drive in F1 ahead of the new season.
The Haas F1 Team has decided to end its title partnership of Uralkali and driver contract of Nikita Mazepin, with immediate effect.
The governing body of the sport, the FIA, had kept open the possibility of Mazepin racing in F1 this year when it announced earlier this week that Russian and Belarusian drivers would be allowed to continue to compete in international racing as long as they raced under a neutral flag.
On Saturday, the team announced that the deal had been terminated and that a replacement driver would be announced next week.
After the news broke, Mazepin released a statement on his social media accounts.
The F1 contract has been terminated, and I am very disappointed that the process was not followed.
I would like to thank those who have tried to understand. I hope we can all be together again in better times, as I have cherished my time in F1. I will have more to say in the coming days.
At the start of 2021, Mazepin joined the company as part of a sponsorship deal with the Russian company Uralkali, which is owned by his father.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a group of business leaders at the Kremlin last week to discuss sanctions against the country.
The title sponsorship agreement that saw the car painted in the colors of the Russian flag was a result of the Uralkali deal.
At the final day of the first preseason test in Barcelona last week, the branding and livery of the VF22 was removed, although Mazepin continued to drive it.
Speaking on the final day of the test, the team principal said the team would be able to survive without the money.
The financial situation is ok, but there is no implementation on the team, how we are running it, how we plan the season.
There are more ways to get funding. There is no issue with that.
Russia will not host a grand prix for the foreseeable future after F1 terminated its deal to hold a race there.
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