Nikita Mazepin believes that if Formula 1 fully reopens its doors to Russian drivers, he will be the one to fill that seat.
The 25-year-old former Haas driver was expelled from the sport, along with sponsor Uralkali, following sanctions imposed by the FIA and European governments at the onset of the Ukraine crisis in early 2022.
Since then, Mazepin has described motor racing as more of a "hobby" for now.
However, he remains confident that he is the most likely candidate to represent Russia in Formula 1 if the opportunity arises.
"I'm 25 now," Mazepin told Forbes Russia.
"I think if a Russian appears in Formula 1 in the next seven years, it will be me. Because if someone calls me and says that I have to get behind the wheel in four months, there will be no problem."
"I will definitely be in perfect athletic shape until I'm 32 at the very least," he added.
Mazepin is currently training for triathlons and preparing for the Silk Way Rally, but insists he is better prepared now than during his F1 debut season with Haas.
"Right now, I'm better prepared than when I debuted in Formula 1," he confirmed. "And my lack of relevant experience in these prototypes is very quickly fixable.
"So I think that if you see a Russian in F1 in the near future, it will be a person with my first and last name," he smiled.
