Speaking to news agency Ria Novosti earlier this week, Mazepin said:
Nikita Mazepin made his F1 debut with Haas last season alongside his former F2 rival Mick Schumacher. The Russian was originally set to race with the team for at least another season.
Haas, however, severed ties with Mazepin earlier this year along with their title sponsor Uralkali following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mazepin, along with his oligarch father Dmitry Mazepin, has been placed under the sanctions list of various European countries since March.
Following his exit from F1, Mazepin decried Haas’ move to fire him from the team, claiming that the team acted “unilaterally” and without proper consideration. He also claimed that he only found out about his exit at the same time the team had announced it to the media.
Nikita Mazepin says his life has changed radically since F1 departure
Nikita Mazepin has claimed that his life changed “radically” within just a month following his departure from F1. Speaking to Ria Novosti, he said:
Mazepin’s short career in F1 has been one of the most controversial of any driver in recent times. The Russian driver has often been criticized for his lack of respect for other drivers while on track, given his tendency to impede faster cars.
While Haas lacked competitiveness last season, Mazepin was often easily the slowest driver on the grid. This was especially highlighted by his teammate Mick Schumacher’s often commendable performances.
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