Nikita Mazepin looks to have embarked on a new career as an events planner after being axed from Formula 1.
The Russian racer made his F1 debut with Haas, but failed to score a single point during the 2021 season as the team fielded two entirely uncompetitive cars. He was set to be given a second crack alongside Mick Schumacher this year, but things changed after Russia launched their invasion of Ukraine.
The FIA made it clear drivers from Russia would still be allowed to compete, provided they did not represent their country and did not voice any support of their country's belligerence. But Haas quickly made the decision to cut ties with both Mazepin and sponsor Uralkali, the company owned by his oligarch father.
Perhaps aware he will struggle to find another drive in motorsport, it appears Mazepin has turned his attention to other ventures. His latest seems to be an event planning firm called The Ninety Nine Events, which threw a big Halloween-themed bash this week.
Photos published on his Instagram account show party-goers in fancy dress enjoying themselves in front of a large screen with Mazepin's surname displayed in large letters. Another snap shows the former racer wearing headphones while operating DJ decks.
"This year I had to say goodbye to Formula 1 for a while," he wrote in the caption. "But in order to open up to something different, it is important to come to terms with setbacks and trouble.
"If one path for self-expression is closed, then you need to look for another. For the first time I come before you in such a role. It's great that you can discover new frontiers and find opportunities for development in your own projects."
After one of the photos was shared across social media, some F1 fans couldn't resist poking fun at the Russian. "Can’t spin a car anymore so he’s spinning tracks instead," wrote one, in reference to the "Mazespin" nickname he was given by some over his habit of losing control of his car during his one and only F1 season. "He probably crashed the computer he was playing the music on," joked another.
Mazepin has previously suggested he could one day return to F1 – but not with Haas, after accusing team principal Guenther Steiner of lacking "human qualities". He said: "When a team boss behaves like that, then I think there are nine other teams with whom I can have a dialogue. I think one day I will be [in F1] as a businessman, but there is no hurry."
