Nikita Mazepin says, “You have to do it sometimes” after the spin

Nikita Mazepin says “you have to do it sometimes” after being stranded in the gravel in FP2 at the Dutch Grand Prix.

The first Formula 1 racing weekend in the Netherlands since 1985 had an eventful first day on which red flags were waved three times in FP1 and FP2.

The first was due to engine failure, which forced Sebastian Vettel to resign, while Lewis Hamilton’s FP2 ended prematurely due to a problem with the oil system.

A mistake by Mazepin then brought out the third.

At turn 11, the Russian lost control, landed in the gravel and couldn’t get out, which brought his day to an early end.

However, he wasn’t too concerned about the post-session incident. He said the drivers put so much pressure on and sometimes have to make mistakes, adding that he has not done this in a while.

“Yes, I refined it,” he said.

“But I think you have to do that sometimes and it’s been a while since I went on a gravel trip.

“So yeah, now I know what Dutch gravel feels like.”

Friday ended



# FP2 ended like this:
P17 Mick 1: 12.607
P19 Nikita 1: 12.835 # HaasF1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/DwfIbms5Za

– Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) September 3, 2021

Check out the Haas collection through the official Formula 1 store

Despite going out Haas The driver still really enjoyed driving a Formula 1 car on the Zandvoort circuit for the first time.

In particular, he liked the track’s two banked turns and said they made him feel like he’s never had before.

“It was a lot more fun than I expected,” he said.

“The first time I passed the bench in the last corner, I experienced something completely different with my body – it felt pretty cool! Definitely a new feeling for me in Formula 1.

Overall, it’s been a pretty positive day for the American team, both with and with Mazepin Mick Schumacher Finishing ahead of George Russell’s Williams in FP2.

That surprised Mazepin, but he’s not confident that it will stay that way in qualifying.

“I was honestly a bit surprised by that,” he added.

“I think we noticed this year that they always have something left over where we did it, but probably not that much.”

Schumacher was able to finish FP2 in P16 and compared a lap in Zandvoort with a rollercoaster ride.

“I think the word roller coaster really fits,” he said.

“There is still a lot to learn about this new track, it will certainly be the same for everyone.

“I think we still have to optimize [the car] a little, get everything out, but I think we are on the right track. “

However, looking ahead to the weekend, Schumacher is concerned that he may not be able to stay ahead of the Williams cars.

“We know that tomorrow’s qualifying could look a little different,” he admitted.

“But I think that we can of course be very happy today, we still have a certain lead and I am sure that we will find a few tenths here and there.”