Haas says it remains hopeful of salvaging running on the opening day of Formula 1’s second test in Bahrain following a freight-related delay.
Formula 1 teams have gathered in Bahrain for the second pre-season test, which is due to begin on Thursday, and run through Saturday.
But Haas’ plans were disrupted when a cargo plane was grounded by a technical issue before it was able to fly to Britain to receive the team’s freight.
Haas’ freight arrived in Bahrain late on Tuesday but the team says it is optimistic it can get its VF-22 prepared in time for the afternoon session on Thursday.
The expectation that it will miss Thursday morning’s session nonetheless acts as a further blow to the struggling outfit in the aftermath of its troubled first test, in which it finished bottom of the mileage charts.
Reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi is scheduled to drive the VF-22 on Thursday in the event that Haas can ready the car in time.
Fittipaldi will carry out duties during testing, alongside regular racer Mick Schumacher, following the exit of Nikita Mazepin.
Haas has yet to confirm a full-time race replacement for Mazepin.
