Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen feels pitiful for Nikita Mazepin. Haas F1 team let go of Mazepin ahead of the Bahrain testing amid the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. They also ended the contract with their main sponsor, Uralkali, which is controlled by Mazepin’s father.

Guenther Steiner added fuel to the fire when he revealed he did not verbally communicate with Mazepin when his contract was terminated. These incidents led to the Dutch driver sympathizing with Mazepin. However, he remains optimistic that the 23-year-old will drive in Formula 1 again. In the aftermath of the incident, Haas announced that Kevin Magnussen will replace the Russian.

Verstappen’s Thoughts on Mazepin

Max Verstappen feels sorry for Nikita Mazepin and stated that the Russian was done hard by the decision. He said, “You always have to feel sympathy for Nikita himself – everyone, regardless of background, they work very hard from a very young age to be a Formula 1 driver.“

Verstappen explained the amount of sacrifices a driver has to make in order to reach the summit of racing. And he felt Mazepin was no different from the rest. “Of course you can have backing but you still need talent to drive these cars in Formula 3 and Formula 2. You need to be competitive and he definitely was that.” he added.

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The Dutch driver admitted the situation is complex, but is hopeful to see Mazepin race in the future. He conveyed, “At the moment it’s very complicated for him, but yeah let’s see hopefully in general the world can be at peace again.”

Guenther Steiner Did Not Speak with Mazepin

Earlier, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner revealed he did not speak to Nikita Mazepin after the Russian’s sacking. The communication happened only in a written manner, according to Steiner.

The Italian also admitted that the external factors had a part to play, but felt that Haas are looking to move on from the incident. They are in a spot of bother, as the team is struggling both on and off the grid. With Uralkali out of the picture, funding has become a problem for the American team. However, Steiner claims the team will have sufficient funds to stay in Formula One.

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Kevin Magnussen replaced the outgoing Mazepin, and he hit the ground running. The Dane finished first on the timesheet on the second day of the testing in Bahrain. Magnussen’s return is a welcome boost as his experience will come in handy ahead of a tough season. Haas will hope for a solid start to the season as they look to survive the storm coming their way.