Source:REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
[Saba Sports News] Former Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin stated in an interview that racing is just a “hobby” for him; however, he believes he would be a leading candidate if F1 opened its doors to Russian drivers again. He mentioned that if a Russian driver appeared in F1 within the next seven years, it would likely be him. If someone called him and told him he had to participate in an F1 Grand Prix within four months, he would definitely agree unconditionally. Mazepin revealed that he is now 25 years old and plans to maintain perfect physical condition until at least 32. Currently, he is training for a triathlon while preparing to participate in the Silk Road Rally. Mazepin feels he is in better shape now than when he first entered F1. After participating in other rally events, he has compensated for his lack of experience in certain areas. Records show that when the Ukraine crisis broke out in early 2022, Mazepin and his sponsor Ural Potash were dismissed from the Haas F1 team and faced sanctions from the FIA and European countries.