Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has dismissed speculation surrounding Dmitry Mazepin's presence at last week's Bahrain pre-season test, insisting the Russian was merely "catching up."

Mazepin, whose Uralkali sponsorship and son Nikita were ousted from Haas three years ago amid the Ukraine crisis outbreak, stunned onlookers by appearing in Sakhir.

Oakes, very familiar with the 56-year-old from their collaborative days at the Hitech junior team, clarified the encounter and admitted they exchanged "hello".

"Yes. I haven't met with him," he told reporters.

"Yes, he's a friend of mine, yes I used to be together with him in Hitech. He was here catching up with another friend of his. It was nice to see him."

Initial whispers pegged Mazepin as an Alpine guest, but he may have held a generic pass, unbeknownst to F1 or the FIA. "I said hello," Oakes admitted, sidestepping further details.

"I'm not going to go into that, the world's a crazy place."

Renault CEO Luca de Meo last week rebuffed sale rumours tied to Flavio Briatore's team fixer role and the works engine programme's impending end. "I am often asked by the press if we want to sell, but we have never wanted to," he told AS newspaper.

A source close to Mazepin said it was a "personal visit," quelling talk of deeper ties.