After facing setbacks in his Formula One career, Nikita Mazepin is transitioning to boxing as he embraces the identity of a “hybrid athlete.” The Russian driver had initially gained attention when he was signed by the Haas team for the 2021 Formula One season, where he partnered alongside fellow rookie Mick Schumacher. Despite their best efforts, both drivers were unable to score any points during that season as Haas diverted its focus toward developing a competitive car for the following year.
Mazepin was poised to return for the 2022 season, but his F1 journey abruptly came to an end just before races were set to begin. The fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to Mazepin and his team’s title sponsor, Uralkali—owned by his father, Dmitry—being dropped from Haas. The European Union imposed sanctions on both due to Dmitry’s close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following this, Nikita found himself unable to participate in many motorsport events outside Russia or the Middle East until he was removed from the sanctions list late last year, allowing him to travel back to Europe once again.
With limited options in motorsport because of the travel restrictions, Mazepin decided to explore a broader athletic career. He began rebranding himself on social media, labeling himself a “hybrid athlete” as he prepares to delve into various sports. In an interview with the Russian news agency Tass, he expressed his ambitions to try different athletic endeavors, particularly noting his interest in boxing, with plans to participate in a boxing match by 2025. “This year, I plan to participate in five competitions in different sports,” he stated. “The boxing match will take place in the fall of 2025, and I hope everything will go well.” Although no opponent has been announced for his boxing debut yet, Mazepin has mentioned that his interests extend beyond boxing; he intends to engage in triathlons and dune buggy racing throughout the year.
Mazepin’s enthusiasm for motorsport remains strong, as he continues to engage in racing activities. He has taken on leadership of his own racing team, 99 Racing, and is competing in the Asian Le Mans series within the LMP2 category. The team made a notable entrance into the series with a solid performance, securing a third-place finish in their category at the Four Hours of Dubai. Mazepin was part of the driver lineup, which included accomplished racers Neel Jani and Goncalo Gomes.
In the current season of the Asian Le Mans series, Mazepin and his team have achieved significant success, including two victories and a second-place finish. The rally raid racing scene has also seen Mazepin thrive, where he enjoyed success with a victory in the class at the Silk Way Rally in July 2022, and followed up with a second-place finish at the Baja Astrakan in the subsequent year, both events taking place in Russia.
