Mazepin misses Qatar GP FP2 due to Haas F1 chassis change

Haas announced an hour before the start of FP2 at the Losail International Circuit that Mazepin had been banned from the session after the team discovered that its chassis was damaged.

“Nikita Mazepin will not be participating in FP2 as a chassis change will be required after FP1,” said a Haas team spokesman.

It was confirmed that this was due to “damage suffered in FP1”.

Mazepin had previously struggled with the Haas chassis in his rookie Formula 1 season at Haas, but received a new one for the Belgian Grand Prix in August, whereupon he felt that his pace had “improved massively” .

But Mazepin will now go back to the previous chassis and keep it for the remainder of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

The added setback for Mazepin is that he will miss the only training session of the weekend that takes place under the lights on the Losail circuit.

Both FP1 and FP3 will take place during the day, while FP2 is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. local time – the same time that both qualifying and the race begin.

Mazepin finished the opening session in Qatar in last place, completed only 16 laps and ended up eight tenths of a second behind the lap time of team-mate Mick Schumacher.

Nikita Mazepin, Haas VF-21, leaves the garage

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Mazepin is one of only two drivers on the grid who have previously raced on the Qatar track but downplayed at Thursday’s press conference that it would give him a huge advantage.

“I think during a career or as a racing driver you sometimes have certain advantages or disadvantages in every session,” said Mazepin.

“Maybe it will put me in a good position for the first 10 laps, but they are all so good that they will surely memorize the route just as quickly, and I will do that too.”

Schumacher now has to complete Haas’ preparations single-handedly through FP2 before Mazepin returns to running in the last practice session on Saturday afternoon.