Mazepin gives himself 4 out of 5 for rookie F1 season
The 22-year-old Russian finished 21st in the 2021 F1 world championship - behind Alfa Romeo stand-in Robert Kubica who only contested two races - in his first full campaign following his graduation from Formula 2.
Neither Haas driver registered points as the American team opted not to develop what was the slowest car on the grid last year in order to prioritise the 2022 regulation overhaul, but Mazepin was outperformed by his rookie teammate and 2020 F2 champion Mick Schumacher.
Mazepin admitted his first season in F1 had been “really tough” at times but felt he deserved a high mark for his hard work, while he acknowledged there was room for improvement with his adaption to the sport.
“I finished school four years ago and that's the last time I was receiving marks and in all honesty I don't really miss it so much,” Mazepin said when asked how he would mark his debut season.
“I never think that you should get a five because five is excellence, and I don't know what excellence is. Today it might be excellent but tomorrow I realise I can do something more.
"So four is the maximum I can give myself. So I guess four for sticking through it because the times were really tough this year at certain points.
“Probably a three for adaptation, because that hasn't been my strong point and I keep improving on it.”
Mazepin’s debut F1 season was hindered by several chassis changes in a bid to rectify having a slightly heavier car than his teammate, an issue he put among his lowest points.
“I used a few different cars this year, so certainly when I used the cars that I have found difficult or heavy, it was the lower moments,” he explained.
“Then I also made some mistakes like in the Bahrain race and some other events when I didn't feel like I performed well or I tried too hard and then ultimately lost my lap time like in Brazil, when I believe that we had a chance of out-qualifying Williams or going into Q2. That was definitely the low moments.
“The high moments is many races. I had a good race in Silverstone, in Brazil and Mexico.”
