Nikita Mazepin and Formula 1 problem with paid drivers

Mazepin made his first start at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix in March Lukas Raich / Wikimedia Commons

Formula 1 is often referred to as the “rich playground” accessible only by wealthy relatives and substantial financial support, and this perspective is not supported by the prevalence of paid drivers in the sport. Such drivers can offer great financial incentives to the team they are competing for rather than being paid to participate by the owner of their car.

Esteban Ocon, the son of a French mechanic, and Lewis Hamilton, whose father had multiple jobs to support his child’s early karting career, are usually cited as examples of less fortunate individuals reaching the lofty heights of F1. These are notable anomalies, however, as the wider field this season consists mostly of racers who come from immensely privileged beginnings.

“Mazepin is obviously allowed to behave off the track with impunity, but also on it”

There are varying degrees to which the existence of family wealth becomes apparent in sport. For example, Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance conveniently takes one of the two seats in the paddock, is a partner in the Aston Martin F1 Team. Lance Stroll is a talented rider and is the second youngest rider to make a podium at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the age of just 18. Before Lawrence took ownership of Aston Martin last year, Lawrence gave Williams F1 $ 80 million to secure Lance’s seat. While he can be described as a paid driver due to his billionaire father’s financial commitment, Lance’s presence in the paddock is backed by solid performances on the track.

The Russian Nikita Mazepin, on the other hand, is a paid driver whose performance certainly does not justify a place in Formula 1. Mazepin signed with Haas F1 in the 2021 offseason after finishing fifth in the F2 championship last year and winning just two races over the course of the season. He is supported at Haas by Mick Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who won the 2020 F2 championship.

Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin, is the majority shareholder in the Russian chemical company Uralchem. The oligarch originally attempted to buy the team now known as Aston Martin in 2018 but actually lost in a controversial bidding war against Stroll. Ultimately, choosing Haas F1, Mazepin promised to provide “financial stability” in exchange for Nikita’s place at the wheel. The Haas car now bears the name of the Uralchem ​​subsidiary Uralkali and is also painted in the colors of the Russian flag; a clear indicator of the oligarch’s influence on the team.

“His ruthlessness and fundamental mistakes shaped his short F1 career and his fellow drivers were not shy about their criticism.”

Less than a week after Mazepin’s arrival at Haas, he posted a video on Instagram in which he inappropriately touched a woman in the back seat of his car. The woman who later defended Mazepin put out her middle finger in the video to deny his advances. The scandal caused a sensation in the Formula 1 community when more than 40,000 people signed a petition asking Haas to terminate his contract. Haas did nothing of the sort, however, as he was unwilling to lose the rewards Dmitry Mazepin could offer. It’s hard to believe that if another driver posted a similar video without this financial backing, their contract wouldn’t be canceled.

In addition, Mazepin made questionable remarks on social media and responded to a fan who informed him of a racist message he said, “This is a real world,” followed by a Russian flag. In November last year he already celebrated the “birthday” of Covid-19 and attributed it to “the guy in Wuhan” [who] a tea [bat emoji]. “

Mazepin is apparently allowed to behave with impunity off the track, but also on it. During the pre-season tests in Bahrain, he spun off the track twice, followed by two more in qualifying. He eventually managed to crash in the actual race after losing control at Turn 3 and finished his first F1 race in about thirty seconds. In Imola, Mazepin crashed during training and was the last of those who finished the following race. This driving has earned him the nickname “Mazespin” among F1 believers. His ruthlessness and fundamental mistakes shaped his short Formula 1 career, and his fellow drivers were not shy with their criticism and sent irascible radio messages encouraging Mazepin to perform dangerous maneuvers.

Although Mazepin’s time in Formula 1 was rocky, it has to be said that it is not his fault alone. Schumacher also struggled with the Haas car, which is generally considered to be the mechanically worst car in this year’s field. The team didn’t score a single point throughout the season and finished most races a few laps behind the leaders. While Mazepin has undoubtedly been bad this season, the car he drives is way behind the rest, making his job even more difficult. With his father’s money, Haas could make real improvements before next season, and if it does, Mazepin has no excuses for not performing and can no longer hide behind the ailing machinery he is currently dealing with.

Nikita Mazepin has only been in the sport for eight months but has firmly established herself as an F1 brat. Arrogance and demands off the track, combined with poor driving style, consolidate his status as a paid driver. Without Dmitry’s billions in chemistry, he wouldn’t be on the list. He’s certainly a talented driver, but not talented enough to be in Formula 1. Unfortunately, Haas needs money, so Mazepin’s presence in Formula 1 won’t be as short-lived as many hope.

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