Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin’s interesting response to Lewis Hamilton

Nikita Mazepin’s response to Lewis Hamilton’s observation about the current state of Formula 1 is exactly what you would expect.

Suffice it to say that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton didn’t come from money. Yet let’s reread the middle part of that sentence: “seven-time Formula 1 world champion”.

The only other seven-time world champion in Formula 1 history is Michael Schumacher, and Hamilton recently surpassed Schumacher’s all-time wins record of 91; he sits just two shy of a triple-digit win total at 98.

The 36-year-old Briton has worked his way from the bottom to the top to become arguably the most successful driver in the history of motorsport, as well as one of the world’s most successful and well-known athletes of all-time.

Hamilton recently made an observation that Formula 1 is evolving into somewhat of a “billionaire kids’ club”.

Here is what he had to say about the matter last month, according to AS.

"“For me personally, we live in a time where this has become a billionaire kids’ club. If I were to start over from a working-class family, it would be impossible for me to be here today. Because the other boys would have a lot more money. We have to work to change that and make this an accessible sport, for the rich and for people with a more humble origin.”"

There is certainly a lot of merit to that claim, even if not 100% true 100% of the time, and there are a number of current examples.

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But if there is one driver who perfectly fits the “billionaire kids’ club” mold of modern-day Formula 1 which Hamilton is describing, it’s Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin, whose billionaire father Dmitry is the majority shareholder of Uralkali and the primary reason why the 22-year-old Russian has his ride in the series.

Even without touching upon his checkered past away from the race track, Mazepin’s disastrous on-track performance has spoken for itself so far this season. He has been the most error-prone driver on the grid — in many cases, he has even been dangerous to be around.

He is also well off the pace of rookie teammate Mick Schumacher in equal(ly poor) equipment. He is a rookie and is still learning, but he has far more to learn and figure out than most rookies do who enter Formula 1.

But what did you expect from the driver who finished in 18th place in the 2019 Formula 2 standings with a top finish of eighth while his teammate won four races and the championship, a driver whose father’s bank account was practically always going to be enough to get him to Formula 1?

Mazepin responded to Hamilton’s observation, and his response is what you might expect.

"“Every new driver in Formula 1 has received support from sponsors. Some are the makers of energy drinks, one is the richest man in Mexico – these are all people who are on the grid today that we could all talk about as well.”"

“Every new driver in Formula 1 has received support from sponsors.”

As the great Basil Fawlty would ask, can we get you on Mastermind, Nikita? Next contestant Nikita Mazepin from Moscow, special subject, the bleeding obvious?

Of course Formula 1 all comes down to money. The same can be said for any major form of motorsport. Money, many times, trumps talent. That’s just the way it is.

But there’s a slight, slight difference between being backed by a world-renowned energy drinks company (he isn’t talking about Rich Energy) in Red Bull and being backed by a rich father who is willing to pour in millions of dollars to sponsor a Formula 1 team just to put his son in one of the cars when there are a boatload of more talented and more deserving drivers who end up being left on the sidelines.

And there’s a slight, slight difference between gaining the financial backing of a business magnate in Carlos Slim from a young age to pursue a career at the highest level of open-wheel racing and being backed by a rich father as well.

So it stands to reason that Mazepin would be the one trying to compare these scenarios with his own.

By the way, on the Red Bull/Carlos Slim note, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both have multiple wins — three combined victories through six races so far this season, in fact — and both sit in the top three in the driver standings, with Verstappen leading.

Sure, they wouldn’t be here without that backing, but their talent actually backs up the decisions of those backers to invest in them and put them in the cars they’re in.