Nikita Mazepin

Nikita Dmitrievich Mazepin (2 March 1999 - Present): Russian racing driver from Moscow who competed in Formula One for Haas F1 Team in 2021, participating in 21 Grands Prix and scoring zero championship points with a best finish of 14th place, but whose tenure was cut short when he was dismissed by Haas in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making him one of the few drivers fired due to geopolitical circumstances rather than performance. Born into extraordinary wealth as the son of Dmitry Mazepin, Russian oligarch billionaire and owner of Uralkali (one of the world's largest potash fertilizer producers), Nikita had unlimited financial resources to pursue motorsport from childhood.

He began karting in 2009 and progressed through junior categories including Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, and GP3 before joining the Formula 2 championship in 2018. Mazepin's junior career was marked by both flashes of speed and numerous controversial incidents including several collisions with rivals, dangerous driving penalties, and punch-ups in the paddock, establishing a reputation as an aggressive and sometimes reckless competitor. In Formula 2, Mazepin competed for three seasons from 2018 to 2020, achieving two race victories and finishing fifth in the 2020 championship, demonstrating sufficient pace to merit Formula One consideration though his results were aided substantially by having superior equipment through his father's funding.

In December 2020, Haas announced Mazepin would join the team for 2021 alongside fellow rookie Mick Schumacher, with Uralkali becoming Haas's title sponsor in a deal reportedly worth around $30 million annually—a financial lifeline for the struggling American team that was transparently a pay-driver arrangement. Before even making his Formula One debut, Mazepin generated controversy when a video emerged in December 2020 showing him groping a woman inappropriately in the back of a car, which he had posted to social media. The incident sparked outrage and calls for Haas to terminate his contract, but the team issued only a mild reprimand after Mazepin apologized. The 2021 season proved disastrous for Haas, fielding the uncompetitive VF-21 which the team deliberately did not develop as they focused resources on 2022's radical rule changes.

Mazepin made his debut at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix on 28 March 2021, where he spun on the formation lap before even reaching the grid, setting the tone for his season. Throughout 2021, Mazepin finished last in 17 of the 21 races he completed, retired from three races, and was outqualified 20-1 by teammate Schumacher in their qualifying head-to-head, with his sole 'victory' coming at Spa where the rain-affected two-lap 'race' saw neither driver able to improve from their original grid positions. Mazepin's best finish was 14th place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix (the chaotic race where only eight cars finished). He scored zero championship points and finished last in the Drivers' Championship standings of classified drivers.

His season was characterized by spins, crashes, defensive blocking tactics that infuriated faster drivers trying to lap him, and consistently finishing behind Schumacher. Russian journalist Daniil Medvedev nicknamed him 'Mazespin' due to his propensity for spinning, and the name stuck among fans. Despite this woeful performance, Uralkali's funding secured Mazepin's seat for 2022, and Haas announced both drivers would continue. However, on 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering international condemnation and sanctions.

Haas immediately removed Uralkali branding from their car at pre-season testing in Barcelona and on 5 March 2022 announced they had terminated their contract with Mazepin and Uralkali with immediate effect, citing force majeure due to the geopolitical situation. The decision was influenced by both the optics of Russian sponsorship during an invasion and potential sanctions targeting Dmitry Mazepin due to his close connections to Vladimir Putin. Mazepin expressed disappointment but could not overcome the political reality. He was replaced by Kevin Magnussen who re-joined Haas.

Following his Formula One dismissal, Mazepin was also banned from competing under the Russian flag in FIA-sanctioned competitions, effectively ending his international racing career. He filed legal action against the European Union over sanctions and attempted to overturn his Formula One dismissal, but was unsuccessful. In December 2022, Mazepin and Uralkali filed a lawsuit against Haas seeking $13.6 million for breach of contract, which was eventually settled out of court in March 2024 with undisclosed terms.

Mazepin's post-F1 activities have included involvement in his father's business interests and occasional public statements criticizing the sanctions regime, though he has largely disappeared from motorsport. His single Formula One season is widely regarded as one of the weakest in recent decades, with many observers believing that without his father's billions, Mazepin would never have reached Formula One based on merit alone. The statistic that matters most: across 21 races, Mazepin was outqualified 20-1 by Schumacher, himself struggling significantly, and finished behind Schumacher in 19 of the 20 races both completed. Known for aggressive and sometimes dangerous driving, frequent spins, conflicts with other drivers, and being the most prominent example of extreme pay-driver dynamics in modern Formula One, Mazepin's legacy is that of a driver whose substantial financial backing secured opportunities his talent did not merit, whose single season was characterized by consistent underperformance, and whose dismissal due to geopolitical circumstances beyond his control made him a unique footnote in Formula One history.