Mazepin ignores growing criticism: "I'm not panicking yet"
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Nikita Mazepin has been under fire since before the start of the 2021 Formula 1 season, but his first two Grand Prix weekends have not improved matters. The Russian spun often in those two weekends and is nowhere near his teammate.
Even before the season started, Mazepin had come in for a lot of criticism for his actions on and off the track. When he failed to go further than three corners in the first race, after spinning too many times throughout the weekend, his nickname quickly became Mazespin.
Mazepin is not worried
The Russian is far from worrying himself though. ''I'm sure I'll be in this paddock for a few years at least. I'm not panicking yet,'' Mazepin said according to Formel1.de. That may not be surprising, because, with Uralkali, Haas finally found a sponsor for the car and the only reason that sponsor is on the car is the fact that Mazepin is the son of the owner of that company.
Still, there is work to be done for Mazepin, who has to leave a big gap on Mick Schumacher in qualifying but also in the race. ''We are in the same situation. So far, Formula 1 has been surprisingly intense for me. Of course, I knew it would be intense, but the two qualifying sessions were very hectic'', concludes Mazepin who was caught out by Antonio Giovinazzi in Imola because Mazepin passed the Italian in the final corner of qualifying, ruining his fastest lap.