What Went Wrong with Russia’s Secret F1 Team?

Russia’s journey into Formula One was never just about racing. It was a calculated effort to reshape the country’s global image using one of the world’s most glamorous and technologically advanced sports. Backed by state support and oligarch billions, Russia tried to establish itself as a permanent force in Formula One through a multi-pronged strategy: a home Grand Prix in Sochi, a Russian-licensed team in Marussia F1, and a wave of Russian drivers making their mark on the world stage. But beneath the surface of this high-octane dream lay technical missteps, financial struggles, and an overreliance on state power. From the tragic collapse of the Marussia team to Daniil Kvyat’s rollercoaster career and the controversy surrounding Nikita Mazepin, Russia’s presence in F1 has been dramatic, ambitious—and ultimately unsustainable. We also look at why it all fell apart: the flaws in the Sochi circuit, the mismanagement of teams, and the drivers' tensions that ultimately made Russia’s F1 presence untenable.