Ever since he lost his Haas seat at the beginning of the 2022 F1 season, Nikita Mazepin hasn’t been quiet about receiving unjust treatment from F1, and the team. Now, to return to F1 in 2024, the Russian driver is ready to go to war with the whole of the UK and the European Union.
The UK, Canada, and the EU, all, sanctioned Mazepin and his father after Russia declared war on Ukraine but the former Haas driver is trying his best to get his name cleared. If things go according to his plan, Mazepin feels he has a chance of making a return to F1 as early as 2024 as per WTF1. Well, that’s what he thinks.
Would you want to see Nikita Mazepin back in Formula 1? 🏎️#Mazepin #Haas #Formula1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/mtIbVzOgVw
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) May 4, 2023
Keeping the thoughts of F1 teams aside when Mazepin approaches them, fans themselves aren’t remotely excited about the Ufa-born driver making a return. In terms of talent, they feel that there are many ahead of him in the pecking order. After news about his possible return appeared on the news, fans began to voice their concerns and opposed his return.
Fans don’t want Nikita Mazepin to make F1 return
Mazepin hasn’t been a part of F1 since 2021, and the majority of the fans claim to have not missed his presence whatsoever. Considering the fact that there are so many talented drivers waiting for their shot in F1, fans don’t want to see the Russian driver anywhere near the conversation.
“What drugs is he taking? All of them?” a user named Pacsab wrote on Twitter.
What drugs is he taking? All of them? Just asking for a friend.
— pacsab (@pacsab) May 4, 2023
“His performance in the sport was embarrassing and not welcome considering how much better talent there is. Almost worse than Latifi. Almost,” said Brandon, also on Twitter.
Defitely not, his performance in the sport was embarrasing and not welcome considering how much better talent there is. Almost worse than Latifi. Almost.
— Brandon (@bc__collective) May 4, 2023
Some fans, however, also brought in the “Russian” factor to the equation. The war between Russia and Ukraine is still raging, and lot of F1 fans are comfortable with having a Russian driver in the sport just yet, especially when it’s someone whose family is closely associated with the president Vladimir Putin.
Definitely not. No Russian in sport until war in Ukraine is not over.
— Adam (@adam128256) May 4, 2023
Can Mazepin make his return to F1?
Mazepin’s only season in F1 back in 2021 was vastly underwhelming to say the least. He was with Haas, a team that couldn’t score a single point throughout the year, but was still vastly outperformed by his own teammate Mick Schumacher.
He did bring in a huge amount of money with him, because of his dad’s company, Uralkali. But now that Haas have MoneyGram as their Title sponsor, they don’t require the Russian company’s cash injection anymore.
Based on talent, it is highly unlikely that any team would consider Mazepin for their 2024 seat, with drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Schumacher on the sidelines.
