‘Mazepin approaching Formula 1 with a crowbar’

Dr Helmut Marko has said Nikita Mazepin is forcing his adaptation to Formula 1 with a “crowbar” at Haas in his debut campaign.

Given how mistaken-ridden his start to Formula 1 life has been, it was predicted that Mazepin would be racking up damage bills around the unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo at Monaco Grand Prix.

But the Russian driver had one of his cleaner weekends, despite still racing exclusively at the back of the grid with team-mate Mick Schumacher.

Overall, though, it is Mick who has certainly made more of an impression both in and out of the car. The Red Bull motorsport advisor is another key member of the Formula 1 paddock that subscribes to that notion.

Not the weekend we expected, but definitely not all bad. I’m really proud of the team and what we manage to do with what we have.
Now, on to the next one. #MSC47 #HaasF1 #KeepFighting pic.twitter.com/7tm56hoMsX

— Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) May 24, 2021

Check out the Haas collection via the official Formula 1 store

“There were a few moments in which Mick made mistakes,” Marko told Sport Bild, as quoted by grandpx.news.

“If you look at his career, it always took him two years to reach top performance. But in Formula 1 the learning period so far seems to have been significantly faster for him.

“Mick approached it sensibly, while Mazepin is trying to do it with a crowbar.”

Mazepin, meanwhile, as criticism continues to surround him, is happy with the progress he feels he is making at Haas.

“The race was very intense,” he said after the Monaco Grand Prix.

“Ever since I started racing in single-seaters I haven’t had so much required concentration, because on this track, even though we’re one of the slowest teams, everything flies by so much.

“There was a moment when I was going through turn 14, I just felt like I touched the wall, and that’s where Charles [Leclerc] went off yesterday, I mean there was just really no margin for mistakes.

“The car was quite difficult to drive fast out there but we’ve made good progress within my internal team since Barcelona and that’s a very positive picture.”

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1, like our Facebook page and join us on Instagram!