Nikita Mazepin has siಌgned a “multi-year” deal to race for the Haas team and will make his Formula 1 deꩵbut in 2021.

The Russian currently sits third in the𒀰 Formula 2 championship standings heading into this weekend’s season finale in Bahrain and requires a top-seven finish in order to obtain an FIA superlicence.

Mazepin hasꦬ claimed two victories and a total of six podiums in his second season in F2 with Hitech Grand Prix and has previously carried out F1 tests with Racing Point a✨nd Mercedes.

“Becoming a Formula 1 driver is a lifelong dream come true ༒for me♚,” Mazepin said.

“ꦬI really appreciate the trust being put in me by Gene Haas, Guenther Steiner, and 𒀰the whole of the team. They’re giving a young driver an opportunity and I thank them for that.

“I’m looking forward to starting our relationship together, both on and o🦂ff the track, and I’m naturally keen to continue to demonstrate my abilities after a strong Formula 2ౠ season.

“The team will be looking to me for feedback and inputs in order t❀o refine its package for 2021 and beyond. I will take that responsibility on and can’t wait to get sta🌳rted.”

The 21-year-old, who finished runner-up in the 2018 GP3 series, also topp🌼e📖d a 2019 in-season testing session in Barcelona for Mercedes.

“I’m delighted that Nikita Mazepin will be driving for Haas F1 Team next season,” added Haas t🐎eam principal Guenther Steiner.

“Nikita has underlined his credentials in Formula 2 this year withꦍ a brace of victories and a handful of podiums in what’s been a strong sophomore season for him.

“He’s developed into a mature racer moving up through🌱 the juniไor ranks – notably most recently in the GP3 Series, where he finished runner-up in 2018, and obviously in Formula 2 over the past two seasons.

“I’m excited to see what Nikita can achieve in Formula 1 and we look forward to giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of world motorsport. With a re😼cord-setting 23 race schedule set for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, he’s going to get plenty of track action to learn all the nuancꦏes of grand prix racing.”

Haas will announce who will partner Mazepin before the season-ending A꧟bu Dhabi Grand Prix on 13 December but it is widely expected that current F2 cꦅhampionship leader Mick Schumacher will land the seat.