The history between the Haas team and the Mazepin family kept the entire paddock attentive until the resolution that ended with the main sponsor, Uralkali , leaving the team, as well as what should have been one of the starting drivers, Nikita .
The Russian’s place was taken by Kevin Magnussen, who returns to the American team after leaving at the end of the 2020 season, and who was already at the wheel of the VF-22 in the Bahrain tests.
Mazepin, who after seeing how the financial support that his father provided to the team with the sponsorship of his fertilizer company disappeared, was forced to leave Haas. Those from Kannapolis remained silent for a few days after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out, but after a few days, in full development of the 2022 Formula 1 winter tests, they announced the termination of both contracts, both that of the pilot as the sponsor.
The 23-year-old Russian said he heard the news at the same time as the rest of the world, when the team published a statement, and considered that he deserved more support from Haas, however, the team’s boss, Guenther Steiner , explained that this did not It was like this.
The Italian, in an interview with RTL , admitted that he “was always sorry to have to do something like that”, but when asked if he saw Mazepin as a victim or if he felt sympathy for him, he indicated that it was difficult to say.
“The external circumstances, which neither I nor he have been able to change, are as they are. You have to live with it and move forward, I see it as part of life, and I put it in writing. I have not spoken to him”, said the head of the team.
On the decision, made in conjunction with owner Gene Haas , Steiner added: “You have to draw conclusions, as the last two or three have been exhausting, but the worst is over, we are always good for surprises when there is drama. “.
However, the end of the case does not seem to have come to an end, as Uralkali announced that they would take legal action against the team to get their money back after considering the breaking of the agreement as something illogical.
“It’s a very complicated case,” said the boss of the American team, who also admitted that “they will surely lose some money”, but not enough to jeopardize their participation in Formula 1.
“The team is financially stable, there is no need to worry, that is the most important thing for me,” said the Italian.
