The future of Alpine remains uncertain. The French racing team is reportedly considering a merger with Hitech Grand Prix, a prominent player in Formula 1 feeder series. This development sparks a glimmer of hope for Nikita Mazepin’s return to Formula 1.
Mazepin had a single season in Formula 1 as a Haas driver. The Moscow-born driver didn’t score any points during his time in the premier class, never finishing higher than P14. However, there seems to be a slim chance that his dream of returning to Formula 1 may come true.
Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin, is reportedly one of the investors in the Hitech team. The German Auto, Motor und Sport claims that the same team hopes to enter Formula 1 through a merger with Alpine. Hitech was previously rejected by the FIA in 2023 to take the eleventh spot on the grid.
New Team Leader
Oliver Oakes, the new team leader of Alpine, was a co-founder of Hitech GP. The junior team has been a prominent player in the Formula 1 feeder series since 2015. Mazepin also drove for Hitech in Formula 3 and Formula 2, prior to his brief career as a Haas driver. The Russian is currently racing in the Asian Le Mans Series.
No Super License
If Mazepin is indeed a contender for a potential seat at Alpine in the future, the driver has one problem. PlanetF1 reports that the Russian no longer holds a super license, which currently prevents him from participating in Formula 1.