Mazepin advises departing F1 drivers: 'Here’s what awaits you'

Nikita Mazepin has wise words for the drivers leaving the sport after this Formula 1 season. The former Haas driver was present at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and can relate to what awaits the departing drivers.

Mazepin enjoyed attending the final race of the season and seeing old friends. It prompted him to write a surprisingly amusing post on his Instagram page, in which he shares some words of wisdom with the departing Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo, and Nicholas Latifi on what lies ahead for them.

The former F1 driver can tell that the retiring drivers will go through the five stages of mourning. For instance, in the denial phase, they will start driving around their house or apartment building in circles. When the anger comes, everyone but the driver himself will be blamed for having to leave the sport. "Particularly the “Drive to Survive” film crew. You watch the races obsessively and yell at the screen," Mazepin writes.

Eventually, he also predicts a depressive phase, where there is a lot of partying and one gains five kilos. "Repeat on endless loop. This will not be an easy stage to get through, but your friends will enjoy it," the Russian explains. Eventually, however, everyone will reach the acceptance phase.