P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine boss Oliver Oakes was quizzed on the surprise F1 paddock return of Dmitry Mazepin during pre-season testing amid the Russian’s former links to the Hitech junior outfit.
Dmitry Mazepin, through his company Uralkali, sponsored the Haas F1 team in 2021 and secured a race seat for his son, Nikita. However, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Haas abruptly ended their partnership with the Mazepins, as Uralkali’s owner faced EU sanctions. Mazepin was seen in the F1 paddock in Bahrain, with uncertainty surrounding how he gained access, visiting Mercedes and Alpine teams without clear entry permissions. It was noted that Mazepin interacted with Hitech team owner Oakes, sparking speculation about potential interest in Alpine F1 team sale to interested parties, although team officials denied such plans. Despite rumors, Alpine Team Principal Oakes and advisor Flavio Briatore have consistently refuted any claims of an Alpine F1 team sale, emphasizing commitment to long-term involvement in Formula 1.
