Nikita Mazepin explains about his military service

This season, Nikita Mazepin made his Formula 1 debut. At the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Russian driver achieved his best result with a 14th position. Indeed, it was on the eve of this event that rumors claimed that the Russian driver might take a break next season to fulfill his military service. These rumors surfaced after comments were attributed to his father during an economic event in Saint Petersburg.

In Russia, young people aged between 18 and 27 years old must perform military service. This service lasts 1 year, but some individuals may be exempted.

Nikita Mazepin could be one of those individuals who could be exempt from military service. There is a way around it this year, it involves taking courses over a period of 3 years to become a reserve officer, but it is not for just anyone.

On my side, you know, the situation is very clear. I am studying at the university (Russian studied economics and languages). That’s how it works in Russia, there is compulsory military service, and there are two ways to serve if you are physically fit enough.

« The first option is to finish university and serve for one year. And the second option is that if you are fit enough in terms of physical results and studies, you can move on to what is called the elite army, whose service is completely different. It’s one day a week, and you learn to be a reserve officer. It takes three years, but only one day a week and essentially in a classroom, he explained.

The Russian also admitted that he had been taking these courses for two years already, and that he plans to continue taking them in order to hope to obtain his reserve officer’s diploma.