Sports sanctions continue to befall Russia.
The latest is the end of the collaboration between the American team Haas and its Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, the only one in Formula 1, who joined its ranks at the end of 2020. In a tense geopolitical context marked by the war in Ukraine, the young 23-year-old Muscovite pays in particular for the close ties his father maintains with Vladimir Putin.
Indeed, Dmitry Mazepin is one of the main shareholders of Uralkali, a large company specializing in the production and sale of potash and recent sponsor of Haas: the car manufacturer has thus broken its partnership with the Russian company at the same time.
TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 5, 2022
Haas announced its decision via a communicated course wishing for a peaceful outcome to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict: "The Haas F1 team has taken the decision to end, with immediate effect, the partnership with its title sponsor Uralkali and the contract of pilot Nikita Mazepin.
Like the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wants a quick and peaceful end to the conflict.
»
Mazepin denounces a "unilateral" decision
The driver was quick to react to his former team's announcement on his Twitter account: “Dear fans and followers, I am very disappointed to learn that my F1 contract has been terminated.
Although I understand the difficulties, the FIA regulations and my willingness to accept the proposed conditions to continue were completely ignored and no procedure was followed in this unilateral act.
To those who tried to understand, my eternal thanks.
I cherished my time in F1 and truly hope we can be together in better times.
I will have more to say in the days to come.
»
pic.twitter.com/6QHUDTXryv
— Nikita Mazepin (@nikita_mazepin) March 5, 2022
No Russians at the British Grand Prix
This announcement comes just days before the start of the new Formula 1 season, the first Grand Prix of which will take place in Bahrain on March 20.
Brazilian reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will take over from Nikita Mazepin in final pre-season testing next weekend until Haas finds a new driver to support German Mick Schumacher.
The world of Formula 1 had already taken several sanctions against Russia in recent days.
The British Motorsports Federation had announced that no Russian and Belarusian pilots would take part in competitions in the United Kingdom, including the British Grand Prix.
Similarly, the International Automobile Federation had announced that "no international competitions would take place in Russia and Belarus, until further notice" and "no flag/symbol or anthem of Russia/Belarus would be used in international competitions until further notice”, aligning with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.
