At the Mexican GP, Russian driver Nikita Dmitryevich Mazepin, from the Haas team, did not surprise anyone by finishing the race in last place. After the race, he was kicked out of a nightclub at a party. Confusion has also not been uncommon in his first year as an F1 driver.
At the age of 22, Mazepin, born in Moscow, collects bad results and problems with other drivers, as well as disagreements with his own teammate, German Mick Schumacher. There are also constant scoldings from rivals for their attitudes considered unsportsmanlike on the track.
Even before the season premiere, he was the target of a social media campaign to have his contract with Haas terminated. Just over a week after being introduced by the team in December 2020, Mazepin appeared in a video, posted on social media, trying to caress a woman’s breasts without her consent.
The pilot apologized, and Haas said the matter was handled internally.
There are those who emphasize the qualities of the Russian, such as the GP3 runner-up in 2018. Others ask themselves: how is it possible to give the car keys to Mazepin?
His best position until the last stage, Mexico, last Sunday (7), was 14th place at the Azerbaijan GP, in an atypical race in which seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished last after failing to make a turn – and four other pilots did not complete the race.
The F1 website itself, in the profile in which it describes the Russian, highlighted the reasons for Mazepin’s permanence in the main category of motorsport.
“Nikita Mazepin may be bringing a good chunk of the budget with him to the Haas team, but don’t be fooled into thinking he doesn’t have the ability to drive,” says the excerpt.
The pilot’s father, Dimitry Mazepin, billionaire owner of a fertilizer company, Uralkali, is the main sponsor of the American company Haas.
With money from the Russian family, Haas painted their VF-21 car in the colors of the Russian flag. The model is white with letters and stripes in blue and red, in addition to featuring the Uralkali inscription on the sides and rear.
In a championship with 20 drivers, Mazepin occupies the 21st position in the overall standings and has no points added. This was only possible because the Polish Robert Kubica had to take over twice the car of his teammate, the Finnish Kimi Raikkonen, from Alfa Romeo, and walked towards a better outcome than the Russian.
Raikkonen was out of the GPs of Holland and Monza, Italy, for having contracted the coronavirus. Kubica ended up with 14th place on the Zandvoort circuit, in Holland, and 15th on the Italian stage. Mazepin failed to complete both tests.
Only the top ten in each race count towards the overall standings. In the São Paulo GP, which takes place next Sunday (14), the Dutchman Max Verstappen, from Red Bull, who has 312.5 points, will defend the lead against the attacks of the English Lewis Hamilton, second placed with 293.5 points.
At the Zandvoort track, Nikita Mazepin had hydraulic problems in her car, but her gestures resonated for a few days. It was a weekend filled with headaches for the Haas top management because of the friction between Mazepin and his colleague Schumacher.
Both fell out since qualifying on Saturday (September 4). In the first few laps of the circuit, Mazepin pressed Schumacher against the wall, damaging the front wing of his colleague’s car, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
“He ruined my race,” complained the German, who, after a stop for repairs on his car, could only manage to finish last in the Netherlands. “I don’t even think I’m the first one he’s done this with. He has this thing about wanting to be in front of me at any cost.”
Gunther Steiner, head of Haas, quickly played down the conflict. “It’s a tough move. I don’t think we can blame Nikita too much, but of course we need to work and have a private conversation.”
Former driver Ralf Schumacher, Mick’s uncle and former F1 driver, demanded actions from Steiner.
“Actions like this are life-threatening. With attitudes like that, Nikita has no space, he seems overwhelmed and frustrated,” said Ralph, whose appeal was made in vain. “Steiner needs to intervene. Even if the money is needed, it can’t be the price of putting his team at risk.”
The Russian replied, ironically. “If his family needs protection in F1, I’m more than happy.”
Despite still being in the beginning of his career, the history of incidents is extensive, which has made other drivers and former runners criticize Mazepin’s attitudes.
In April, in qualifying at the Emilia-Romagna GP, in Italy, the Haas driver disrespected a fair play in the category, breaking a minimum distance between two cars during the fast laps. Mazepin passed Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, who was trying to improve his time. The Italian called his rival stupid.
The following month, at the GP in Portugal, it was Canadian Nicholas Latifi, from Williams, who called him names, this time as an idiot and an ass, in qualifying.
The Russian also suffered an additional five-second penalty in his final time for ignoring the blue flag, and instead of giving way to Red Bull’s Mexican Sergio Perez, he tried to put pressure on him. The two narrowly missed hitting, and Perez radioed, “Damn, asshole.”
Mazepin was also punished with 30 seconds at the Austrian GP for disregarding the double yellow flag warning, an indication to drivers that there is danger on the track and it is necessary to reduce speed on the stretch.
Among the most recent frictions, at the Turkish GP, the Haas driver – at that time a latecomer – closed Hamilton, who had started from 11th, punished with a loss of ten points due to an engine change.
The Mercedes driver was doing a recovery test and, with a lap ahead of the Russian, he almost collided when trying to overtake him. This time, Mazepin admitted difficulties with the wet track conditions and apologized to Hamilton.
“When you have so many cars driving around you, and more than once, it turns out to be a disaster. I’m glad I didn’t get into trouble,” said the Russian, in a rare diplomatic nod.
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