The Russian driver was involved in a great controversy after the conflict that concerns his country in Ukraine, and one of the consequences was the rupture of the contract that linked him to the Haas team for the 2022 F1 season.
After learning of his immediate departure from the team, Mazepin announced that he would hold a virtual press conference from Moscow with the media, and indicated his intention to work to return to the category.
However, the Muscovite said he would not return to Haas, stressing that he would not go where he is not wanted, as he does not have the necessary “confidence” in the team.
Last Friday, through a statement, the Kannapolis team made public the decision to terminate the contract of Nikita Mazepin and the main sponsor, Uralkali , company of his father Dmitry, due to the situation in Ukraine.
The 23-year-old insists he had no contact with team boss Guenther Steiner after pre-season testing in Barcelona, where he ran the all-white VF-22, and said he learned of his dismissal when same time as the rest of the world.
Mazepin commented that he was willing to sign the document that the FIA provided to the Russian drivers, which allowed them to compete under a neutral flag, but revealed that the governing body sent him a letter in which they were considering his situation when his departure from Haas was announced. .
“I value relationships a lot,” Mazepin said. “I think F1 is a unique sport because it has a lot to do with the development of the teams and this chemistry that you have between your colleagues and colleagues to put the car in a position where it can go well, but I was very disappointed with the way in which it was managed”.
“I have been worried about my future since I left Barcelona, and I have been told that if the FIA or any regulatory body allowed me to race according to their rules, there would be no reason to take my seat, because there is no legal reason. to do it,” he continued.
“In my previous relationships with Guenther [Steiner], I described them as good, and I respected him a lot, I have been used to believing 101% in his words, he is a team leader, and if he says something, it usually happens always or almost always. “.
“But I haven’t heard from the team since this happened,” Mazepin explained. “I found out about my dismissal at the same time it was released to the press. I want to think that I am a young man of 23 years and that I was not prepared for it.”
“I didn’t get any hint or any support telling me that this decision was the one that was made, or that it was going to be made public in 15 minutes, that I was ready for it,” the Russian said.
“I received many messages from people, and I found out at the same time as you (referring to the press),” said the driver who will no longer be with Haas.
Uralkali , for its part, said it would take legal action against the team if necessary to recover the amount of money paid after breaking the sponsorship contract.
Mazepin was asked about this, although he did not rule it out, if he ruled out the possibility of returning to Haas in the future: “I would say that it is good to keep all the doors open, but I do not want to return to a place where I am not wants, and F1 is a dangerous sport.
“You have to trust and believe in the team you work with, it’s a matter of security, and I think I didn’t have that trust with them,” added the Muscovite. “Regarding the support of the team, I feel that I should have had more, because there was no legal reason to break my contract.”
“I was very relieved to learn that the FIA was allowing Russian driver-athletes with neutral status to compete, and I was hoping, to be honest, that I would be able to race. But on March 5, things really changed, and I lost sleep.” for which I was working 18 years of my life”, he concluded.
