Despite Nikita Mazepin groping an Instagram model earlier this month, the Haas F1 Team has confirmed that he will partner Mick Schumacher at the team in 2021.
While the #WeSayNoToMazepin campaign is continuing to try to exert pressure on Haas to drop Mazepin, it’s likely that the Russian racing driver will be on the F1 grid next season.
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Former Formula One driver David Coulthard has given his thoughts on how he thinks Mazepin will fare against 2020 Formula Two champion Mick Schumacher in equal machinery.
“I’ve seen him progress from lower formulas. He is a focused, fit and hungry racing driver,” Coulthard said of Schumacher this week.
“He has his own personality but he has put himself at the front of championships with all of the support and opportunity that has been put in front of him.
“You know the classic thing about a horse to water? You can give someone a great car or a great team but if they don’t have the skill they won’t do anything with it.
“Haas will be a safe place for him to learn. I don’t think he will struggle in beating Mazepin, if he does then he has a problem. If he doesn’t, then that’s exactly what I expect,” the ex-F1 racer added.
Mazepin finished fifth in last season’s F2 standings, 51 points adrift of Schumacher and almost 40 points behind Callum Ilott, who finished second in the Championship.
Despite Ilott having a considerably stronger season than Mazepin, the Russian landed the second seat at Haas as his father, Dmitry Mazepin, agreed to provide financial support to the team.
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