Nikita Mazepin is hopeful that relations between Russia and the FIA, Formula 1's governing body, will improve in the near future.
The 25-year-old Russian driver, along with his father Dmitry's company Uralkali, was ousted from Formula 1 following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict three years ago. Since then, Russians have faced significant barriers in FIA-sanctioned events and other international sports.
"There is hope for a warming of relations with the FIA," Mazepin told Tass news agency. "But warming does not happen by itself, but when someone is closely involved in it."
Mazepin pointed to progress in swimming as a model, highlighting his father Dmitry's recent efforts in the sport. Dmitry, now president of the Russian Aquatics Federation, played a key role in the return of Russian athletes to world championship swimming, including the Budapest short course event last December.
"Swimming has active support in the form of my father, and I see how much time he devotes to flying to other countries to personally negotiate, so that our athletes are invited to competitions, given equal rights with everyone else and have opportunities to set records," Mazepin explained.
He lamented the absence of similar leadership in Russian motorsport. "Unfortunately, in motorsport we do not have such a leader now, but I hope that the trend of Russian athletes returning to the world arena will continue."
Mazepin also expressed a desire to see Russian athletes fully reinstated, not just competing under a neutral status.
"I hope that we will soon see Olympians, Paralympians, racing drivers, swimmers, and everyone else on a regular basis at world championships. And not just with a neutral status, but with the Russian flag and anthem," he said.
