Nikita Mazepin is enrolled on a three-year course at Moscow State University, which will hopefully see him graduate as a reserve officer, thereby avoiding the draft.

Avoiding the draft in Russia is a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years in prison, and even F1 drivers are not exempt.

However, since 2008, full-time students who have graduated from civil university with a military education are exempted from duty.

Consequently, Nikita Mazepin is enrolled on three-year course at Moscow State University, which will hopefully see him graduate as a reserve officer.

Speaking to Russian TV's 50 Questions, the Haas driver explained: "Ilya Vyacheslavovich, the dean of my faculty, found time to personally present me with a diploma of completion of my bachelor's degree.

"It is important to get support from the university," he added. "I was at the university today, because I had lectures, I am studying for a master's degree.

"Did I get any marks just because I am a Formula 1 driver? No!” he insisted "It's hard to tell what other people have in their heads. But several times I had problems due to omissions, bad grades in some subjects. And I understood that this was a chance to fly out.

"Sport does not last forever," he continued. "I sincerely believe that, say, at the age of 30, when the career of a Formula 1 racer leaves its peak, life is just beginning.

"I grew up in a family where my mother graduated from Moscow State University, my father graduated from MGIMO, so, honestly, there was never a question about 'not studying.

"Things are not bad, the school year has just resumed. I'm not in the army, I'm in the military department, I have to finish this year, so I look forward to the summer, because we will have training camps somewhere in Balashikha. I will need to live in the barracks for a month."

However, Mazepin Snr isn't quite so happy, felling that his son should be exempt.

"Nikita has 23 races, and they tell him that he needs to join the army," said Dmitry Mazepin, according to RT.com "They told him he had to be present at the training camp regularly. There would be no exceptions.

"He has a race every two weeks. How does he do it? Who do I ask this question to? And I'm not talking about Nikita alone but about everyone, athletes and professionals in the same situation. The issue of education and sports is relevant."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 04/10/2021 15:08

"He'll end up just fine no matter if it's F1, family business, or something else. Don't shed a tear for Nikita."

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2. Posted by Pavlo, 04/10/2021 7:20

"In post-soviet countries one can go to the sports university and automatically get the military rank without ever attending anything. This gives quite useless diploma but allows to focus on sports, which is fair.
Instead he choose Moscow State University, which will give him something like masters in economics. Even funnier to refer to MGIMO, one of highest ranked russian universities. Note that his father is worried about 1-day-a-week military course, but not about full time daily studies."

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3. Posted by Batman, 03/10/2021 19:08

"""I sincerely believe that, say, at the age of 30, when the career of a Formula 1 racer leaves its peak, life is just beginning."
Halt! Stop there! You just secured a Got Talent wild card in the category of ... Comedy!
God have mercy on us so we can find the courage and patience to see this talented boy just leaving at the age of 30."

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4. Posted by Superbird70, 03/10/2021 14:54

"I believe he is the point in his courses where he is learning about the kamikaze pilots of WW 2. "

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5. Posted by KKK, 02/10/2021 17:01

"nah, he will do the course on-line from his Monaco pad as he is sipping his Krug Champagne"

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6. Posted by trackrecords, 02/10/2021 16:20

"I have seen a Russian citizen - aware that money talks, that bribery is rife in their country and so many billionaires suddenly appeared from nowhere - comment that a fat back-hander will take place and Mazepin will see more sea and beaches than the inside of any barracks..."

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7. Posted by Fambank, 02/10/2021 15:10

"Fortunate son, you are it."

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8. Posted by Wokingchap, 02/10/2021 13:48

"Lets hope this keeps him away from F1 as much as possible...... I daren't say my true thoughts on this but the distasteful character of the Mazepins is detectable here."

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9. Posted by kenji, 02/10/2021 13:43

"Emigrate and then all your problems will disappear..."

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"Things are not bad," says Mazepin... of his military career

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