Source: USA TODAY Sports/Gary A. Vasquez
[Saba Sports News] Former Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin hinted in an interview with Autosport that he is “99% sure” he will one day return to the F1 circuit, but not as a driver, rather through business means. The Russian driver was dismissed from the Haas F1 team when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and has since faced sanctions from Europe and other jurisdictions. The premature end of his F1 career has caused him some psychological trauma, and Mazepin stated that he would no longer watch F1 Grand Prix races, likening the experience to watching his ex-girlfriend chat with her new boyfriend. Mazepin revealed that he was once among the top 20 drivers in the world, had a long contract with Haas, and planned to stay in F1 for at least five years, believing he could succeed there. However, he has now given up on a return to F1, and there will be no F1 trophies on the shelf in his study. Mazepin believes there are two paths in life—either enhance your strengths or overcome your weaknesses. Currently, he chooses to enhance his strengths, as business fulfills all his survival needs.