Haas F1 didn’t think twice when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 – they immediately dropped driver Nikita Mazepin from their team.
But three years later, the Russian driver isn’t giving up on his F1 dreams.
“I’m 25 now, and I’m confident that if any Russian makes it to Formula 1 in the next seven years, it’ll be me,” Mazepin told Forbes Russia in a recent interview.
His single season in F1 wasn’t exactly memorable. He struggled to keep up with teammate Mick Schumacher and only held onto his seat thanks to major sponsorship money from his billionaire father’s company, Uralkali.
He was all set for a second season when everything changed. Russia invaded Ukraine during pre-season testing, and just like that, Mazepin’s F1 career was over.
But he’s convinced he’s ready for another shot.
“If someone called me tomorrow and said I needed to get behind the wheel in four months, I’d be ready,” he said. “I’ll stay in peak condition until I’m at least 32.”
The former F1 driver believes he’s actually better prepared now than when he first entered the sport.
“Sure, I might be a bit rusty with the current cars, but that’s something I can fix pretty quickly,” Mazepin explained, seemingly pitching himself to potential teams.
It’s worth noting that no Russian drivers have competed in F1 since the invasion began, and current sanctions make any immediate return unlikely.
Still, Mazepin insists he’s matured and would be a different driver if given another chance at motorsport’s highest level.
