Mazepin surprised by F1’s level of intensity
Nikita Mazepin says the intensity of Formula 1 has surprised him, but he’s remaining calm about the challenges he is facing.
The Russian has endured a baptism of fire after joining the grand prix grid, as a number of spins, crashes and criticisms from rivals have put him under the spotlight.
But after taking the chequered flag for the first time at last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Mazepin feels that he is making the progress needed – especially considering how tough the step up to F1 is for rookies.
Reflecting on how he and team-mate Mick Schumacher have found the learning curve between F2 and F1, Mazepin said: “We're obviously both in the same position. So far, F1 has been surprisingly intense to me.
“I knew it's obviously intense, but the two qualifying sessions that I've had were rather hectic. And the time is shorter, and there's loads of things that are happening. So, yeah, it's a big learning curve.”
Nikita Mazepin, Haas F1
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Although Mazepin was involved in a first lap incident with Nicholas Latifi at Imola, after the Williams driver moved across on him, his Haas suffered no damage and he was able to get to the finish.
Mazepin felt getting to the chequered flag was a huge boost, as he missed valuable mileage in the F1 season opener after spinning out on the first lap.
“It’s very important to keep learning," he said. "Currently it is an upward curve. But there's loads of work to be done. It's a completely different series to what I'm used to driving and, yeah, it's demanding.”
He also believed that he was trying to get a better balance how far he was able to push things to improve lap times, as he felt the risks in pushing for marginal gains were too much at this stage of his career.
“I am pretty sure I'll spend a few years in this paddock at least, so I wouldn't start panicking yet,” he said.
“There's much more to be lost in over pushing and finding the walls, rather than to be found with finding a few tenths. It's a gradual build up, which I need to be focused on, and I am focused on it.”
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov and Adam Cooper
Related video
Red Bull breaks ground on ambitious F1 powertrain division
The hidden hero behind Alonso’s Enstone F1 glory years
Gasly: AlphaTauri has the “right tools” to recover F1 form
Pierre Gasly believes his AlphaTauri Formula 1 team has the “right tools” with which to solve its recent issues.
The consequences of Aston Martin’s radical F1 rear wing design
Formula 1’s 2022 technical regulations have been described as overly prescriptive as the rulemakers look to stifle specific developments in order that their overall goals are achieved – but here’s a plot twist.
Horner: "Timing is right" for Vettel's F1 retirement
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes that his former driver Sebastian Vettel has chosen the right time to retire from Formula 1.
Zhou focused on Alfa Romeo stay in F1 2023 silly season
Zhou Guanyu says his focus lies with retaining his Formula 1 seat at Alfa Romeo for 2023 ahead of talks about his future after the summer break.
Why few could blame Leclerc for following the example of Hamilton’s exit bombshell
OPINION: Ferrari's numerous strategy blunders, as well as some of his own mistakes, have cost Charles Leclerc dearly in the 2022 Formula 1 title battle in the first half of the season. Though he is locked into a deal with Ferrari, few could blame Leclerc if he ultimately wanted to look elsewhere - just as Lewis Hamilton did with McLaren 10 years prior
The other McLaren exile hoping to follow Perez's path to a top F1 seat
After being ditched by McLaren earlier in his F1 career Sergio Perez fought his way back into a seat with a leading team. BEN EDWARDS thinks the same could be happening to another member of the current grid
How studying Schumacher helped make Coulthard a McLaren F1 mainstay
Winner of 13 grands prix including Monaco and survivor of a life-changing plane crash, David Coulthard could be forgiven for having eased into a quiet retirement – but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, in fact he’s busier than ever, running an award-winning media company and championing diversity in motor racing. Not bad for someone who, by his own admission, wasn’t quite the fastest driver of his generation…
Could F1 move to a future beyond carbonfibre?
Formula 1 has ambitious goals for improving its carbon footprint, but could this include banishing its favoured composite material? PAT SYMONDS considers the alternatives to carbonfibre and what use, if any, those materials have in a Formula 1 setting
How Russell has proven he deserves to be Hamilton's Mercedes heir
He’s fast, he’s smart, and he’s already shown he’s not going to let Max Verstappen intimidate him. George Russell won’t say it, but LUKE SMITH says he’s ready to take the lead at Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton moves on to a quieter life. And – whisper it – Mercedes and Lewis are starting to think so too
The traits that fuelled Alonso's unexpected Aston Martin move
Fernando Alonso’s bombshell switch to Aston Martin sent shockwaves through Formula 1, not least at Alpine that finds itself tangled in a contract standoff with Oscar Piastri. Not shy of a bold career move and with a CV punctuated by them, there were numerous hints that trouble was brewing
The elements Ferrari must resolve to first save face, then win championships
OPINION: Ferrari's Formula 1 title hopes look all but over after another strategic blunder in last week's Hungarian Grand Prix denied Charles Leclerc the chance to fight for victory, while handing it to chief rival Max Verstappen. The Scuderia now faces intense scrutiny over what it must now do to finally become a genuine factor in championship battles
The clues about Hamilton’s F1 retirement plans revealed after Vettel’s decision
OPINION: Sebastian Vettel is set to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2022 and will, rather shockingly, be replaced by Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin. But what about the final chapter of the other driver that defined the post-Michael Schumacher era? In Hungary, Lewis Hamilton spoke about his future in the context of Vettel’s upcoming departure, which offered clues on how long it will last