Monday, December 20, 2021
“I like him”, but …
Schumacher advises expulsion of the F1 driver
In Formula 2, Nikita Mazepin is “a good driver,” says Ralf Schumacher. For Formula 1, however, the Russian simply lacks quality, says the former Grand Prix winner. Because this leaves a lot of work on Mick Schumacher, he recommends Haas: Change the driver.
Nikita Mazepin was not directly backed by a successful debut season in Formula 1. On the first race weekends he earned the inglorious nickname “Mazespin” with numerous spins, on most of the tracks he drove clearly behind the rest of the field in the admittedly inferior car, the grandiose one He missed the final at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at short notice because he tested positive for the corona virus the morning before the start. “In my opinion, it has developed in the wrong direction this season,” says Ralf Schumacher, who therefore makes a harsh judgment: “He doesn’t necessarily have to drive Formula 1.”
The former pilot, himself a six-time Grand Prix winner and today an expert at Sky, makes this recommendation out of personal concern. Because Mazepin’s teammate is Mick Schumacher. The son of the record world champion and nephew of Ralf Schumacher made a solid debut in Formula 1 and won the team’s internal qualifying duel 19: 3. Two Mazepin successes are based on the fact that Mick Schumacher dismantled his Haas car in Monaco and Hungary in the last free practice session and was unable to qualify. In the races, Mazepin also only crossed the finish line three times before the German.
“Mazepin was a good driver in Formula 2”, praises Ralf Schumacher, one class higher but he simply lacks quality. In the junior series, the 22-year-old Russian finished fifth last year, when Mick Schumacher won the title. Ralf Schumacher now wishes his nephew that Hass would “put someone at his side who can help him a little, who also brings the team forward”. A pilot who has been at this level for a few years. “It is a very difficult task for a young driver with little experience to bring a team and its concept forward all by himself.”
The 46-year-old doesn’t want that to be understood as a personal tip against Mazepin (“I think the boy is likeable”), but rather as sporting advice to Haas. The US racing team was the only team to not score a single point in the 2021 season and finished last in the constructors’ championship. For the new season, however, the ambitions are great, as team boss Günther Steiner recently made clear in an interview with RTL / ntv: Then “the learning is over”. “We have to deliver next year, from Mick, but also from Nikita.” Which also underlined that Ralf Schumacher’s suggestion will not be implemented. If only because the name and main sponsor of Haas is the chemical company with which Mazepin’s Dmitry became a billionaire.