Nikita Mazepin takes a subtle dig at Haas F1 teammate Mick Schumacher - 'He has advantages unknown to me'

Coming into the 2021 Formula 1 season, the Haas F1 team surprised many by going into the season with two rookie drivers. The fact that they had departed with both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean was shocking enough. However, the driver line-up of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher seemed a risk even by a the standards of a smaller team. As such, the American side have struggled in the start of the season. However, it is Mazpein whose struggles have been more prominent. The young Russian driver has had a number of spins in the opening two race weekends, leading some fans on social media to dub him ‘Mazespin’.

However, the 22-year-old has revealed that he intends being a fixture in the sport for years to come.

“F1 is surprisingly intense for me. Of course I imagined it, even if I didn’t expect such frenetic qualifying,” he told Russian broadcaster MatchTV.

“Everyone looks at you and every misstep has its consequences. But when I lower the visor, I just think about racing. It’s very important to keep learning.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be in this paddock for at least a few years. I won’t start to panic.”

‘Mick Schumacher has advantages unknown to me’

Nikita Mazepin also said that his preperations for the Portugal GP will be difficult and took a subtle dig at his teammate in the process.

“My preparation for Portimao will not be easy – we don’t have a simulator at Haas and therefore we have to use those that most professional drivers have at home.

“On the other side, perhaps Mick will have permission to use the Ferrari simulator. Being part of their academy, he will have advantages unknown to me.”

Mazepin is, by all metrics, a controversial figure in the sport despite this being his rookie year. Much of this has to do with the fact that he posted a video of himself on social media while behaving inappropriately with a woman.

The incident caused outrage but while he did apologise, the furore has not died down. To make matters worse, his father Dmitry’s company Ukrali is sponsoring Haas. This has led to obvious ‘pay driver’ jabs thrown at the youngster.