Monday, September 6th, 2021
Schumacher versus Mazepin
The most brutal duel ever for 19th place
Nikita Mazepin mixes up Formula 1. Not through strong performances, but through brutal and highly dangerous maneuvers. His favorite opponent on the track is stable rival Mick Schumacher. He is massively annoyed by the behavior of the Russian. The duel is a problem for the team.
Only the best three are allowed on the podium. There are points in Formula 1 for the first ten. At Haas you are hopelessly far from all that, Mick Schumacher is completing his first season in the slowest racing car at the bottom of the field – and still has to fight hard. Because the premier class marveled at what is probably the wildest duel that has ever taken place for 19th place. Schumacher versus Nikita Mazepin, both 22 years old – or also: Haas versus Haas. The two teammates have now repeatedly clashed on the track, and the son of the record world champion is now increasingly irritated by the Russian’s pace.
“Apparently he got it into his head that he wants to land in front of me at all costs,” says Schumacher, “that’s basically okay. But if you defend so aggressively against a team-mate, even though there is nothing to win, then then maybe that’s not the right approach after all. ” Something happened again on Sunday in Zandvoort. Shortly after the start of the race, Schumacher sucked himself up to Mazepin in the slipstream, started to overtake on the home straight and would have passed quite easily – if Mazepin hadn’t suddenly turned the steering wheel.
Schumacher almost had to swerve into the pit lane at almost 300 kilometers per hour, his front wing was damaged, “he destroyed my race,” said the German later. Memories were also awakened of the race in Baku, where Mazepin acted similarly at an even faster point – dangerous to health, mind you, in the battle for the back places. Team boss Günther Steiner is called upon to moderate this duel almost week after week, and it is increasingly difficult for him.
Mazepin has a different view of things
Naturally, Mazepin has a different perception of the situation, the maneuver in Zandvoort was “tough”, “but that’s how it should be”. He himself was also upset in detail about an action by Schumacher in qualifying, the team rival is said to have taken the agreed right of way from him. The matter is complicated for Steiner. Haas regards this season as a year of transition, new rules will apply from 2022, with a significantly improved car you will then want to attack. Actually, according to the plan, the two rookies should gather some experience this year. Instead, the team constellation threatens to escalate before the joint work has really started.
Schumacher is obviously the more talented of the two, in the qualifying and racing duels it is 11: 2 for him. But Mazepin also plays an important role: his father Dmitri Mazepin and his company are the team’s title sponsor. So Steiner appeases. Certain incidents are “normal with such young people”, and there is no such thing as “the one guilty party”. And anyway, he would prefer such a problem “this year rather than the next”. Better at the end of the field than in the middle. However, there are already more than enough spectators.
.