Nikita Mazepin joins ever-growing Haas driver shopping list

Haas

Mazepin joins ever-growing Haas driver shopping list

Haas is yet to confirm a driver for 2021

Sam Hall

Sunday 18 October 2020 16:54

Formula 2 driver Nikita Mazepin has emerged as a late contender to land one of the two drives currently up for grabs at Haas for the 2021 season.

Mazepin currently sits sixth in the championship standings, behind second-placed Callum Ilott and fifth-placed Robert Shwartzman, who are both also linked with the two Haas vacancies.

Team principal Guenther Steiner, who has stated clearly the team will be looking to the future with its line-up, has spoken highly of two-time feature race winner Mazepin.

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“I said before, F2 seems to be very competitive this year and there is a lot of people to choose in there," said Steiner. "It is a very good year, and Mazepin junior - as we call him - for sure is one of them.

“He is sixth at the moment, he has won races this year so let’s put him on the list as well. Get the list longer!

“For sure, we are looking at all these people at the moment, deciding what we want to do in principle for the team, where do we look to strengthen the team and get ready for the mid-term or look at the short-term."

Mazepin, 21, is the son of billionaire Russian Dmitry Mazepin and would likely bring with him a welcome sponsorship package.

Steiner, however, continued to appear relaxed despite having no confirmed drivers, pointing to the ability of Racing Point to call up Nico Hulkenberg at the last minute ahead of the Eifel Grand Prix as an example of the talent on the sidelines.

“There are so many people around that this list is pretty long and there is a lot of talent out there and that is why I’m in no hurry to make a decision," added Steiner.

“I continue to say that. There is no hurry. There are enough [drivers]. Lance [Stroll] got sick but within a few hours, they [Racing Point] had Nico here because he has nothing to do, and we cannot say that he has no talent.

“It didn’t take them long to find somebody and next year there will be even more people doing this. I’m in no hurry.”

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