Schumacher to debut new Haas at F1 pre-season testing

Mick Schumacher will get the first run out in Haas’ 2021 VF-21 Formula 1 car during pre-season testing in Bahrain this week.

Both Schumacher and fellow rookie Nikita Mazpin will each drive half a day across the three days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, which takes place between 12-14 March.

Having graduated from Formula 2, the duo are forming an all-rookie pairing at Haas, which is the only F1 team to have completely overhauled its driver line-up over the winter ahead of the 2021 season.

The American squad unveiled its VF-21 challenger - which features a Russian-themed livery inspired by new title sponsors Uralkali, linked to Mazepin via his wealthy father Dmitry - last week.

Haas has announced that reigning F2 champion Schumacher will be the first driver to try out its VF-21 when he takes to the track for the morning session on Friday in Bahrain, before handing over to Mazepin to complete running in the afternoon.

Schumacher and Mazepin will then alternative sessions for the remaining two days of testing on Saturday and Sunday.

Unlike its rivals, Haas has not yet been unable to fire-up its Ferrari-powered 2021 car due to coronavirus-related restrictions over movement between countries, meaning it will do so for the first time in Bahrain.

“The expectation is to do as many laps as possible and get as much data as possible from the new parts of the car with the new regulations on reduced downforce,” Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said.

“That’s all we can do. We have limited time, so we just have to try to get the most out of it.”

Most teams are expected to carry out a similar run plan for their drivers, with this year’s pre-season testing cutback to just three days as part of a push to reduce costs amid the significant carryover of mechanical parts between 2020 and 2021.

Haas will conduct a physical presentation of its VF-21 car on Friday morning at 8.30am local time (5.30am GMT) outside its garage in the Bahrain pit lane ahead of the opening day of running.