Mazepin claims team-mate Mick Schumacher’s "privileges" give him F1 advantage

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Nikita Mazepin has sensationally claimed that his Haas team-mate Mick Schumacher has an advantage over him because of "privileges" that he doesn't have.

Mazepin has been partnered with the son of legendary seven-times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher for the 2021 season, but so far has spent more time off the track than on it.

The Russian spun out of his first race for Haas as the Bahrain Grand Prix got the Formula One season underway, while he finished 17th at last weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Schumacher has finished 16th in both races so far as the 22-year-old embarks on his debut F1 campaign, with the Haas team-mates yet to earn a point so far.

Mazepin, also 22, has vowed he'll be in F1 for a long time to come – even though he doesn't benefit from being in Ferrari's Young Drivers Academy as Schumacher does.

"I'm quite sure I will be in F1 for a few years," Mazepin explained in an interview with Match, cited by Marca.

"It's very important to continue learning and it's a very different championship from what I was used to,"

"It's probable that Mick can use the Ferrari for testing, but I can't.

"By not being part of that [Scuderia Young Drivers Academy], he can enjoy privileges that I don't have."

Schumacher was actually the last driver to cross the finish line in Bahrain due to four crashes.

While he did manage to improve in Italy, Schumacher was two laps behind winner Lewis Hamilton and only ahead of his Russian team-mate.

And while he has big shoes to fill as he follows in his father's footsteps, he believes he has something to help him this season that none of the other racers have on the grid.

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    • He said: “I think in general you have to say that you can’t make everybody happy, and I know my worth, I know what I have accomplished to be here.

    “Having that surname doesn’t only give me the surname, it gives me potentially also the genes so I think I have a very good package and maybe the best teacher in the world.”

    The younger Schumacher actually managed to outperform his dad on his debut in Bahrain.

    READ MORE:Michael Schumacher's son Mick aims dig at Lewis Hamilton over F1 greatness

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    • Ferrari
    • Formula One

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