Jan.23 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin thinks the subsequent Russian driver in System 1 may very well be him.
The previous Haas driver and his sponsor Uralkali had been expelled by the crew and sanctioned by the FIA and European states on the outbreak of the Ukraine disaster in early 2022.
This week, the 25-year-old says motor racing is now only a “pastime”.
Nevertheless, if F1’s door ever re-opens to Russia, Mazepin thinks he’s the lead candidate.
“I’m 25 now,” he advised Forbes Russia. “I believe if a Russian seems in System 1 within the subsequent seven years, it will likely be me. As a result of if somebody calls me and says that I’ve to get behind the wheel in 4 months, there can be no downside.
“And I’ll positively be in excellent athletic form till I’m 32 on the very least,” added Mazepin, who’s at the moment coaching for triathlon while additionally getting ready to contest the Silk Manner Rally.
“Proper now, I’m higher ready than once I debuted in System 1. And my lack of related expertise in these prototypes could be very shortly fixable. So I believe that if you happen to see a Russian in F1 within the close to future, it will likely be an individual with my first and final title,” he smiled.
