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Former Formula 1 star Nikita Mazepin has been absent from the sport’s major circuits for more than two years. Nikita, the offspring of Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, saw his Haas career come to an abrupt end in March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to his dismissal and subsequent sanctions by the European Union – effectively ruling out his return to F1.

Despite not securing a seat at another Formula 1 team since, the 25-year-old has honed his racing skills in other arenas. But now that sanctions have been lifted earlier this year, speculation has been rife about Mazepin’s possible comeback to the frenetic world of F1.

But what exactly has the young driver been up to since disappearing from the spotlight? And what led to the reversal of his EU sanctions? Here, the Express looks into Mazepin’s life…

The billionaire boy

Mazepin’s entry into F1 was anything but ordinary; Unlike his colleagues from more humble beginnings, he was propelled into elite racing competition thanks to the financial backing of his billionaire father, earning him the label of “paid driver.” Dmitry Mazepin, a heavyweight in the business world with a staggering net worth of around $2.4 billion (£1.83 billion), as reported by Forbes, owes much of his fortune to founding the chemical giant Uralchem ​​in 2007.

Notorious for his controversial behavior both on and off the track, Nikita became involved in an infamous altercation with fellow racer Callum Ilott during their stint in the European Formula 3 Championship, after which he was punished by the FIA ​​with a suspension of one race. unsportsmanlike antics.

The Russian, who had been a test driver for Sahara Force India and had taken part in a Mercedes test before his break with Haas, took part in 21 F1 races but never scored a point.

Let go at Haas

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mazepin’s position with Haas for the 2022 F1 World Championship came to an abrupt end; both his racing contract and the team’s sponsorship deal with Uralkali were dropped on March 5. The Russian expressed his dismay and considered the punitive measures in the field of sports as emblematic of the “cancel culture” aimed at his home country.

Reflecting the unrest in the racing world, Haas released a statement announcing: “Haas F1 Team has chosen to terminate Uralkali’s title partnership and Nikita Mazepin’s driver contract with immediate effect. As with the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a quick and peaceful end to the conflict.”

Mazepin promised after his contract expired that he would sue Haas for unpaid wages. Kevin Magnussen came in for the deposed Mazepin and took over the Haas mantle in the 2022 series, finishing 13th on the season. His colleague Mick Schumacher followed closely in sixteenth place. Despite a rocky start, Magnussen remains at Haas and sits 17th in the 2024 rankings, despite only gaining six points so far.

Le Mans and Silk Road

After leaving Haas, Mazepin founded the Jordanian-British racing team 99 Racing in 2022. In 2023, he competed in the Asian Le Mans Series in the LMP2 category alongside Ahmad Al Harthy and Louis Deletraz, taking victories at the Sepang circuit in round one and the Circuit Dubai in round three.

In addition, in 2022, Mazepin participated in Rally Raid, a motorsport event in which off-road vehicles and motorcycles compete in cross-country and Baja rallies. His debut was at the Lagoda Trophy in June that year, and the following month he won the Silk Way Rally driving a Can-Am T3 for Snag Racing.

Although scheduling issues prevented him from competing in the 2023 Silk Way event, he made a comeback for the Denis Davydov Baja this year, taking second place for his efforts.

Sanctions lifted, a possible F1 return?

F1 sanctions against Mazepin were lifted in May this year, paving the way for a possible return to F1. The European Union had initially imposed sanctions on a select group of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, including Mazepin’s father, who had made significant financial contributions to the Russian government as general director of Uralchem.

Earlier this year, a court ruled that Mazepin’s removal from the Haas F1 team did not justify his continued presence on the EU list of sanctioned persons, stating that mere family ties are not sufficient for sanctions criteria. After the ruling, Mazepin expressed his relief: “I am extremely encouraged by today’s ruling and am grateful to the European Court for a fair trial in my case. This is certainly a crucial milestone.”

The ousted driver also announced on social media: “742 days of life under sanctions. We are finally back,” fueling speculation about his possible comeback in the 2025 season. He was linked with a surprise move to Alpine this summer – a team in which Ryan Reynolds has a stake – amid rumors of a merger with the Hitech Grand Prix junior team as Renault commits its Viry engine base to projects outside F1.

Hitech’s new team leader, Oliver Oakes, has worked with Mazepin in the past in Formula 2 and Formula 3 – and the relationship between the two could bring the Russian to the team. However, Mazepin will not be joining Alpine anytime soon, as reserve driver Jack Doohan will be Estaban Ocon’s partner for 2025. The Russian also faces several hurdles if he wants to make a return to F1.

His lackluster performances during his time at Haas could cast doubt on his racing qualities as he finished bottom of the 2021 season, far behind teammate Mick Schumacher and reserve driver Robert Kubica. In the 21 races of the 2021 season, Mazepin recorded five DNFs and his highest performance was a 14th place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.