Haas driver Nikita Mazepin was humble to race with some of the best drivers in Formula One history.
Mazepin got off to an awkward start to his F1 career with a fall at turn three on his debut in Bahrain.
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With the remaining 22 races lurking, the Russian is determined to learn from the experience of the 20-strong starting grid.
When asked how he felt next to drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, Mazepin replied: “It’s very humble.
“It goes without saying how much these guys have contributed to the sport and how much they have achieved.
“To spend your life on the street is a sacrifice and it’s impressive to have done it for so many years in a row.
“I have tremendous respect for these guys. I’ll just look up to their actions and hopefully I can learn as much as I can from them.”
Mazepin’s teammate and rookie colleague Mick Schumacher reached the end of his first F1 race despite having suffered an early spin himself on the Bahrain International Circuit.
The German stated that the most important task ahead would be to understand the characteristics of Pirelli tires as he wants to be more competitive throughout the season.
“”[It is] Just being able to understand the tire is the most important part for me to really get to know them and understand what they need to survive, “he explained.
“They are different from last year. I think it will be interesting for the team and us to get more information about it and see how it develops.”
Mazepin added, “I’ll be going with Mick, with tires being the most important thing in Formula 1. The tires are very tricky and require a lot of study and maintenance.”
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