Nikita Mazepin’s return to the international racing stage is complete. The former Formula 1 driver and ex-teammate of Mick Schumacher at the US racing team Haas will be able to prove himself in the Asian Le Mans Series in the future. His adviser confirmed the change to Russian media.
A year after leaving Formula 1, Nikita Mazepin has a new job. As his advisor explained to “RIA Novosti”, the 23-year-old will start in the 2023 season in the Asian Le Mans Series for the “Team 99 Racing” team.
In the series, Mazepin will compete in the LMP2 class, sharing the garage with new teammates Ben Barnicoat and Félix Porteiro.
A total of four long-distance races are planned for this year in the series, all of which will be held in Dubai. The first two races are on February 11th and 12th, the last two races on February 18th and 19th.
Next to Mazepin, the most prominent driver of the Asian Le Mans series is former Formula 1 driver Paul di Resta.
Mazepin had lost his job in the premier class after the 2021 season as a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Haas parted ways with the Russian after the beginning of the war and a little later ended the cooperation with the main sponsor Uralkali, who made Mazepin’s trip to the premier class possible in the first place. CEO of Uralkali is Mazepin’s father Dmitri.
Most recently, Mazepin stayed in his homeland and took part in the Russian Silk Way Rally. In a recent interview with the news agency “Tass”, he hinted that he would soon be taking on a new job.
“Next year I will take on a new challenge outside of Russia,” he said. “But nothing has been signed yet, so I can’t tell you more,” Mazepin continued.