Former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has made a return to European motor-racing after the FIA lifted its ban on Russian drivers.
Mazepin was axed by Haas after one season in early 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with its Russian title sponsor, Uralkali.
With Russian drivers, forced by the FIA’s restrictions, to compete under national neutrality, Mazepin has effectively been out of motorsport in the intervening time.
But with said restrictions now lifted, Mazepin has made a return to motorsport in Europe, albeit in modest circumstances.
The 27-year-old is competing in the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy for Team Motopark, at Spa-Francorchamps.
In a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, Mazepin was able to score pole position, and did so by a whopping four seconds.
The seismic gap may appear as a huge shock, but Mazepin has driven GT cars since his time in F1, competing in the 24 Hours of Dubai and in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Rinat Salikhov, a fellow Russian driver, is also utilising the lifting of the FIA ban by competing in the GT World Europe Series at the Nurburgring.
Mazepin is not the only ex-F1 driver to compete at Spa, with former Jaguar and Red Bull driver Christian Klien – now a pundit on Austrian television covering F1 – also on the grid.
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