Ousted F1 driver Nikita Mazepin takes UK Foreign Secretary to high court over sanctions

Nikita Mazepin wants to get back to racing in F1 by the 2024 season of the sport.

Ousted F1 driver Nikita Mazepin takes UK Foreign Secretary to high court over sanctions

Nikita Mazepin

Nikita Mazepin, the former Haas F1 driver, has recently stepped up his efforts to find a breakthrough regarding the sanctions that have been put on him since Russia invaded Ukraine. To get the proceedings started, he approached the high court to take action against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Nikita Mazepin and his father, Dimitry Mazepin, were sanctioned by the UK, Canada, and European Union in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the sanctions have been firmly in place, at the duo is going through a travel ban. It is suspected that the Mazepins are close associates of Russian President Vladamir Putin.

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While the junior Mazepin wants to get his sanctions lifted as soon as possible, he was not present at the recent hearing. His lawyer, Rachel Scott, on behalf of the Russian driver, asked the judges to get his plea heard urgently because of his desire to be in contention for having a seat on the 2024 F1 grid.

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Nikita Mazepin and his father are subject to an assets freeze and, as mentioned earlier, a travel ban as part of the sanctions. However, his sanctions were reduced last month, and he can race in the 2023 Asian Le Man competition. Moreover, the lawyers representing the Foreign Office have argued that Mazepin, despite the sanctions, can still negotiate with Formula 1 teams regarding a seat for the 2024 season.

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Nikita Mazepin is challenging the EU and UK sanctions

Nikita Mazepin
Nikita Mazepin

Nikita Mazepin has been trying to get his sanctions lifted since September 2022, but nothing has come to fruition. Moreover, in a witness statement, he previously said, “even if – or while – the Canadian sanctions remain in place, there is at least a prospect of me being able to enter into negotiations to return to Formula One if sanctions are lifted in both the EU and UK.“

Mazepin has not been seen around F1 since Russia invaded Ukraine, and he is desperate to get back into action at the pinnacle of motor racing. He has got the backing of his father to do that and feels if the sanctions get lifted, he would have a decent shot at landing an F1 seat for the 2024 season.

However, it is easier said than done, especially considering Mazepin’s past exploits in F1. During his time with Haas, he was never really able to cement his mettle as an F1 racing driver, and even if the sanctions get lifted, it seems extremely tough that he would be able to secure an F1 seat. What are your thoughts on Mazepin’s F1 prospects?

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