Ilott told no Formula 1 seat for 2021 season

Mark Scott
Callum Ilott

Callum Ilott

Callum Ilott has announced via social media that he has missed out on a Formula 1 drive for the 2021 season having being linked with Haas.

The Ferrari academy driver was shortlisted after Haas decided not to renew the contracts of either Romain Grosjean or Kevin Magnussen for the next Formula 1 campaign.

With Ilott out of the reckoning, it is now a case of when rather than if Haas decide to pick Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin as their brand new line-up for 2021.

“It is time I announce that I have been told I will not be racing F1 in 2021,” Ilott said.

“Obviously I have known this for a couple weeks now. I am disappointed, but I will just work harder and do what it takes to make sure it happens in 2022. Anyway, I have a championship I want to win.”

That Championship of course, is the Formula 2 World title and Ilott is P2 in the standings with just two more races to go in Bahrain.

Following P2 and P16 finishes in the first two races at the Sakhir circuit, Ilott is 14 points behind F2 leader Mick Schumacher. Ilott has 191 points to his name, while Schumacher has 205.

As for a definitive announcement on Haas’ 2021 driver line-up, team boss Guenther Steiner has said there will be confirmation before the season finishes in Abu Dhabi with race day on December 13.

“We plan to announce it before the season is ending,” he told reporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“We don’t know exactly the date yet, or the day, but it’s not long to wait.

“It’s a maximum of two weeks, so please be patient.”

Meanwhile, there is an enforced change in the Haas driver line-up for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix as Romain Grosjean is unable to compete following his horrific first lap crash.

He is being replaced by Pietro Fittipaldi this weekend but there is no decision yet as to whether Grosjean will return for his final Haas race in Abu Dhabi.

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