Sacked Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin included on EU sanctions list | Formula One

The sacked Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin has been included on a list of people who face sanctions from the European Union over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Mazepin, Nikita’s father, was also part of the 64-page document and described as “a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin” on the same day his son vowed to force his way back into the sport.

Mazepin junior was dismissed by Haas on Saturday with the US-based team calling for peace in Ukraine in their press release, which the 23-year-old claimed was how he discovered his contract had been terminated. The driver, who has made 21 F1 starts, spoke about being sacked for the first time on Wednesday morning but later in the day an EU document linked him to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

It read: “Nikita Mazepin is the son of Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin, General Director of JSC UCC Uralchem. As Uralchem ​​sponsors Haas F1 Team, Dmitry Mazepin is the major sponsor of his son’s activities at Haas F1 Team. He is a natural person associated with a leading businessperson [his father] involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine.”

Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian oligarch, is a part-owner of Haas’ former title sponsor Uralkali – but that deal was also torn up over the weekend. The EU document insisted Russian company Uralkali, due to it being the largest producer of ammonium nitrate and the second-largest producer of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers in Russia, was responsible for the destabilization of Ukraine.

Meanwhile Mazepin senior was also alleged to have met Russian president Putin on 24 February alongside 36 other businesspeople. “The fact that he was invited to attend this meeting shows that he is a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin and that he is supporting or implementing actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine,” an EU document said of Dmitry Mazepin.

“It also shows that he is one of the leading businesspersons involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of Russia.”

Uralkali published its own statement on Wednesday demanding “immediate reimbursement” of money already transferred to Haas for the forthcoming season.

Earlier on Wednesday Nikita Mazepin hit back at Haas for sacking him after his country’s invasion of Ukraine and announced he was launching a foundation – “We Compete as One” – to support athletes unable to compete due to war or politics.

The 23-year-old told reporters in a video call from Moscow that there had been no contact with his former bosses at Haas or former teammate Mick Schumacher, son of seven times world champion Michael. “In situations like this you can see the true face of everybody around you,” said the Russian.

Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, has said Russian and Belarusian drivers could still take part in competitions in a neutral capacity. Mazepin said he had intended to do that, citing the example of tennis player Daniil Medvedev who has been allowed to continue playing, but not under the Russian flag.

He said he had not given up his dreams of competing in Formula One, would stay in race condition ready for any opportunity and had no plan to seek a license from another country.