Nikita Mazepin has often found himself on the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it is for his off-track antics or annoying other drivers, the Russian rookie has had his fair share of misfortune.

Unfortunately for the young F1 driver, a new problem has cropped up according to his father, Dmitry Mazepin. Apparently, the driver is coming under pressure from the Russian military.

Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Mazepin Sr revealed the problem. He said that the Russian military wanted the 22-year-old to complete his mandatory 1-year military service.

Unfortunately for the Haas F1 driver, he cannot back out, because it is mandatory for all men over the age of 18.

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“Nikita has 23 races to do this year, and they are telling him that he needs to join the army. You need to go to the training camp” Dmitry Mazepin said.

“He said to me, ‘Dad, what should I do? I have a race every two weeks’. Nobody wants to listen. But it’s not just about Nikita Mazepin, but everyone else who is in the same situation.”

The Haas F1 driver is not the only one who had to go into military service

There are several countries in the world that have imposed a mandatory military service rule. Russia is just one of them, along with the likes of South Korea, Switzerland, Finland, Austria and many more.

F1 veteran, Kimi Raikkonen can sympathize because he went through the same thing in his early racing days. The former Corporal served 6 months in the army, and compatriot Valtteri Bottas was a Lance Corporal.

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Whether Nikita Mazepin will be allowed to finish the season or quit halfway is a different story altogether. One thing is for sure, the youngster will not be able to back out from serving the armed forces.

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