Nikita Mazepin announced his readiness to return to Formula 1

Russian driver Nikita Mazepin admitted that he still expects to compete in Formula 1.

Mazepin in the 2021 season played for the American team Haas in Formula 1, took 21st place in the final standings. In March 2022, it was announced that the team would end their partnership with him. At the same time, the rider came under EU sanctions. In early March this year, the European Court ruled that Mazepin has the right to enter the EU to participate in races, Grand Prix, training and testing.

– I really hope that I will have the opportunity to return to big sport, to Formula 1. But today it is very difficult to believe in it. If the sanctions are lifted tomorrow, if interim measures really start to work, and not, as happened today, that they do not work, I am ready to return. I am in the right weight and condition to go and compete.

– Work in the legal part on your part continues?

– I have a large number of lawyers, they are working to give me the opportunity to return to my sport. We won the trial on March 2 for my birthday, and on March 10, repeated sanctions were introduced. And the letter that we received does not apply to subsequent sanctions,” Match TV reports Mazepin’s words.

Mazepin also said that he would not be able to compete at the 2023 Silk Way Rally Marathon due to being busy with the work of the charitable foundation.

– Plans for the summer – to work in the direction of the fund, to develop it. We have very good results for the year, I am proud of them. Unfortunately, I think that this year I won’t be able to perform at the Silk Road – I won’t be able to spend two weeks. But I am always open to cooperation, maybe Seryozha Karyakin will get in touch, we will decide something, but so far I do not plan to go to the Silk Road.

– If everything goes well, will we see you on the race track before the end of the year?

– Hope so. In January, I performed in Dubai, and if I manage to repeat something abroad, I will use it with pleasure,” Mazepin added.

Earlier, Canadian media reported that Mazepin, through a federal court, wants to be removed from the country’s sanctions list, as the sanctions prevent him from returning to Formula 1.