Mazepin seals 2021 Formula 1 drive with HAAS
Haas F1 Team has confirmed Russia’s Nikita Mazepin will drive for the American outfit in a multi-year deal starting with the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Mazepin (21) currently sits third overall in the Formula 2 driver standings. The Russian, in his second season in Formula 1’s official feeder category, has two Feature Race wins to his credit at Silverstone and Mugello, with four additional podiums and two fastest race laps adding to his stellar 2020 campaign.
In a hotly contested Formula 2 season, Mazepin climbed to third in the points courtesy of a second-place finish in Sunday’s Round 11 Sprint race at Bahrain International Circuit. The Hitech Grand Prix driver will compete in the Formula 2 season finale next weekend, also in Bahrain, before making the move up to Formula 1 with Haas F1 Team.
“I’m delighted that Nikita Mazepin will be driving for Haas F1 Team next season,” stated Guenther Steiner, Team Principal of Haas F1 Team. “Nikita has underlined his credentials in Formula 2 this year with a brace of victories and a handful of podiums in what’s been a strong sophomore season for him. He’s developed into a mature racer moving up through the junior ranks – notably most recently in the GP3 Series, where he finished runner-up in 2018, and obviously in Formula 2 over the past two seasons. I’m excited to see what Nikita can achieve in Formula 1 and we look forward to giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of world motorsport. With a record-setting 23 race schedule set for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, he’s going to get plenty of track action to learn all the nuances of grand prix racing.”
Mazepin graduated from karting into cars in 2015 – competing in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC. Two seasons followed in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship before a move into the GP3 Series in 2018. Mazepin finished as runner-up in the title fight that season with four wins, his success leading the way to Formula 2 in 2019. Mazepin has recent Formula 1 test experience – the Moscow-born racer topping the timesheets in Barcelona’s second in-season test day in May 2019 driving for Mercedes.
“Becoming a Formula 1 driver is a lifelong dream come true for me,” commented Nikita Mazepin on joining Haas F1 Team. “I really appreciate the trust being put in me by Gene Haas, Guenther Steiner, and the whole of the team. They’re giving a young driver an opportunity and I thank them for that. I’m looking forward to starting our relationship together, both on and off the track, and I’m naturally keen to continue to demonstrate my abilities after a strong Formula 2 season. The team will be looking to me for feedback and inputs in order to refine its package for 2021 and beyond. I will take that responsibility on and can’t wait to get started.”
Formula 2 Announcement
Hitech Grand Prix’s Nikita Mazepin will make the step up to Formula 1 in 2021, with HAAS confirming that they have signed the Russian driver for the new season on a multi-year contract.
Mazepin – who has tested F1 machinery before with Force India in 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as world champions Mercedes in 2019 – becomes the sixth driver to graduate from Formula 2 to F1, joining Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi in the top tier of motorsport.
The Formula 2 title contender is the American team’s first confirmed driver for the new campaign, following the announcement of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen’s departure in October, after four years with the team.
“Becoming a Formula 1 driver is a lifelong dream come true for me,” said Nikita Mazepin. “I really appreciate the trust being put in me by Gene Haas, Guenther Steiner, and the whole of the team.
“They’re giving a young driver an opportunity and I thank them for that. I’m looking forward to starting our relationship together, both on and off the track, and I’m naturally keen to continue to demonstrate my abilities after a strong Formula 2 season.
“The team will be looking to me for feedback and inputs in order to refine its package for 2021 and beyond. I will take that responsibility on and can’t wait to get started.”
Mazepin was the 2018 GP3 vice-champion, scoring four wins and four podiums to finish second to the late Anthoine Hubert. Stepping up to F2 in 2019, he was initially slow to acclimatize, before a switch to Hitech in 2020 produced a stark turnaround of form.
The 21-year-old is currently third in the Drivers’ Championship, 29 points off second placed Callum Ilott. After a slow start to the season, where he scored just once in the opening four races, Mazepin has taken two wins and four podiums, becoming one of the most consistent drivers on the grid.
“I’m delighted that Nikita Mazepin will be driving for Haas F1 Team next season,” said HAAS Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “Nikita has underlined his credentials in Formula 2 this year with a brace of victories and a handful of podiums in what’s been a strong sophomore season for him.
“He’s developed into a mature racer moving up through the junior ranks – notably most recently in the GP3 Series, where he finished runner-up in 2018, and obviously in Formula 2 over the past two seasons. I’m excited to see what Nikita can achieve in Formula 1 and we look forward to giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of world motorsport.
“With a record-setting 23 race schedule set for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, he’s going to get plenty of track action to learn all the nuances of grand prix racing.”
NIKITA MAZEPIN
2021:
FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Haas F1 Team
2020:
FIA Formula 2 Championship with Hitech Grand Prix *Active Championship
• Sits 3rd overall on 162pts after Round 11/12
• 2 Race Wins: Round 4 Feature (Silverstone), Round 9 Feature (Mugello) / 6 Podiums
2019 – 2020:
F3 Asian Championship with Hitech Grand Prix
• Finished 3rd overall
• 1 Race Win, 4 Podiums
2019:
FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix
• Finished 18th overall with 6 Top-10 finishes
• Formula 1 Test with Mercedes (Barcelona – May 2019)
2018:
GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix
• Finished 2nd overall
• 4 Race Wins, 8 Podiums
2017:
FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Hitech GP
• Finished 10th overall with 3 Podiums
• Formula 1 Test with Force India (Hungaroring – August 2017)
2016:
FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Hitech GP
• Finished 20th overall
• Announced as Force India development driver
Select Race Starts – Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 / BRDC British F3 Championship
2015:
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC
• Finished 12th overall with 1 Podium
2014 – 2015:
MRF Challenge Formula 2000
• Finished 10th overall with 1 Podium