F1 paddock puzzled by Mazepin's presence in Bahrain

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There was an unexpected visitor in the Formula 1 paddock last week in Bahrain, with Dmitry Mazepin, the Russian billionaire and father of former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin, checking out pre-season testing.

Mazepin's presence raised eyebrows as it reignited memories of the oligarch's controversial stint in the sport as a partner Haas.

Once a prominent figure through his company Uralkali's sponsorship of the US outfit in 2021, Mazepin had faded from the F1 spotlight after geopolitical events and EU sanctions forced his and his son's exit.

Yet, here he was, mingling with Mercedes and Alpine in Bahrain, with no at Sakhir able to reveal how he had secured a paddock pass, a credentialed privilege in F1's tightly controlled environment.

However, a spokesperson for Mazepin downplayed the visit, insisting it was personal.

"Dmitry was on a personal visit. He has remained friends with many people in the Formula One family and was happy to see them in Bahrain."

Still, the ambiguity of his access fueled speculation and curiosity.

The Hitech Connection

While Mazepin's F1 legacy is inextricably linked to his son Nikita's brief tenure at Haas, his involvement, however, extended beyond the American team.

He had been a significant supporter of the Hitech junior team, where Nikita also competed, forging connections that lingered even after his F1 exit.

That history resurfaced in Bahrain when Mazepin crossed paths with Alpine team principal and Hitech founder Oliver Oakes.

The Briton inevitably faced questions from the media about the encounter, offering a mix of warmth and restraint in his responses to the media.

"Yes. I've said hello to him, I haven't met him," said Oakes. Yes, he's a friend of mine, yes I used to be together with him in Hitech.

"He was here catching up with another friend of his. It's nice to see him. I'm not going to go into that, the world's a crazy place."

The Alpine chief's comments hinted at a personal rapport but stopped short of explaining Mazepin's broader intentions.

Whispers of Alpine's Future

Mazepin's visit to Alpine's garage sparked inevitable speculation, especially given rumors about the team's future that just won't go away.

Some suggest that Renault CEO Luca de Meo is still seeking to offload Alpine, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore tasked with brokering a deal.

Mazepin, with his wealth and past F1 involvement, could theoretically be a player in such a scenario. Yet, Briatore has firmly dismissed such talk.

"No, there is nothing for sale," he told Autosport last year. "Everything, we buy. If we had the opportunity, we [would] buy another one team and I put a managing director in.

"Something is very clear. Luca de Meo never wants to sell the team. Question finito."

Briatore's words leave little room for doubt—at least publicly.

For now, Dmitry Mazepin's paddock appearance remains an enigma. Was it truly just a nostalgic catch-up with old friends, as his spokesperson claimed, or a calculated step back into F1's orbit?

His visits to Mercedes and Alpine, combined with the mystery of his credentials, suggest there's more to the story than a simple social call.

As Oakes put it, "the world's a crazy place," and Mazepin's cameo in Bahrain is a fitting reminder of that chaos.

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