Mazepin reverts to old chassis due to Losail kerbs
Nikita Mazepin, Haas, looking downbeat at the Turkish Grand Prix. October 2021.
Missing Friday’s second practice after damaging his Haas chassis on the Losail kerbs, Nikita Mazepin is “unfortunately” back using his old chassis.
Haas announced ahead of Friday’s second practice for theQatar Grand Prixthat Mazepin would have to sit out the session, the team forced into a chassis change.
“Nikita Mazepin will not participate in FP2 as a result of a chassis change being required after FP1,” said a spokesman from the Haas team.
The team confirmed that this was due to “damage sustained in FP1”.
The chassis change meant Mazepin sat out the only practice session taking place under the lights meaning he will not be familiar with the conditions come qualifying and Sunday’s grand prix.
Due to a chassis change being required, Nikita Mazepin will not participate in#FP2# HaasF1#QatarGPpic.twitter.com/in8BK1pnBM
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team)November 19, 2021
Earlier in the dayMazepinended FP1 slowest of all, completing just 16 laps and finishing eight-tenth down on his team-mate Mick Schumacher.
Speaking to the official F1 website, he said: “I felt something on the bottom of the car.
“It was frustrating because I didn’t actually leave the circuit and I was inside the track limits at the moment that it happened.
“我认为这些克雷布斯不是很高兴所有的车but particularly hit my car at the wrong angle.
“It makes for a very careful race and any sessions from now on.”
He added: “We just have to be very conservative and the first session we do on Saturday we’ll start by being inside the white lines and actually not thinking about the speed but being careful.
“That’s the priority, and then build the pushing from there onwards.”
Asked if he’d be getting a brand new chassis, he replied: “Not new, unfortunately old. Same old story.”
The chassis change is not ideal for Mazepin as he had previously struggled with this chassis, racing it in the first half of the season before Haas gave him a new one at the Belgian Grand Prix.
He will have to use his old chassis for the rest of the Qatar weekend.
