Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin dubbed ‘future world champion’

Rich Energy CEO William Storey dubbed Haas Formula 1 rookie Nikita Mazepin a “future world champion” as he prepares to make his debut in March.

The Formula 1 world would not be the same had Rich Energy and company founder and CEO William Storey not arrived on the scene ahead of the 2019 season and signed a title sponsorship deal with Haas, which ultimately ended in an entertaining disaster.

Here we are in 2021, and we are still talking about it, amid a potential return of the British drinks company to the highest level of motorsport for the upcoming season.

Storey has announced that the company will be bringing the black and gold back to Formula 1 in what he dubbed “the greatest comeback since Lazarus” and that thousands of fans have already reached out to him with their excitement.

No details regarding this alleged deal have been revealed, but they will be revealed in due time, according to Storey.

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The 42-year-old Brit has stated that an announcement will be made during the first week in February. But before that announcement, if there is indeed an announcement to be made, is made, Storey is making his presence known in the Formula 1 world, again calling out Haas for their role in the unraveling of that partnership during the summer of 2019.

However, despite taking yet another dig at team owner Gene Haas, Storey did have kind words for the American team’s two new rookie drivers.

But, of course, he especially had kinds word for the one driver who everybody already hates for more reasons than we are willing to count on one hand.

While acknowledging reigning Formula 2 champion Mick Schumacher as a “world class talent”, Storey went a step farther and dubbed Nikita Mazepin a “future world champion”.

As anybody would have predicted, the replies to this tweet were quite interesting to say the least, given Mazepin’s checkered past.

Plus, Haas admittedly only signed the 21-year-old Russian to the team because of the money brought to the table by his billionaire father Dmitry, the majority shareholder and chair of Uralchem Integrated Chemicals Company. Mazepin’s subpar results during his ascension to Formula 1 back up that admission.

And of course, Storey being Storey, that alone generated quite an interesting reaction.

Mazepin and Schumacher are set to make their Formula 1 debuts on Sunday, March 28 in the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit to get the 2021 season underway.