F1 News: Nikita Mazepin Continues His Attempt At Returning To Sport - "I Have Been Working"
Former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin continues to attempt a contentious return to the sport after losing his seat with Haas after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The American team cut ties with the driver as well as then-title sponsor Uralkali, which is owned by Mazepin's father. The Russian driver has been adamant since then that he will make a return to the grid.
Key Takeaways
- After being caught in the geopolitical turmoil stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mazepin, tethered to the sanctions on his father Dmitri due to close associations with Vladimir Putin, witnessed his career inadvertently entwined with global political complexities.
- With the lifting of certain sanctions and a return to the EU, Nikita's potential F1 comeback remains uncertain, where, in his own words, “none of this helps the development of a sporting career when you can't move around freely and participate in negotiations.”
Listen To The Latest Driven Mad Podcast Episode
After 600 days away from the Formula One grid following his enforced exit from Haas amid a politically charged climate, Mazepin continues to fight for a spot in the motorsport. The Russian driver found himself wrapped up in a complex web of political consequences that severely curtailed his mobility within the sport.
"It's been nearly 600 days since my last trip to Europe for F1 tests in Barcelona. For now, Europe remains closed to me," he wrote on Instagram.
"I was allowed into Italy on a national visa, but that was as far as I was permitted to go.It would seem that the journey should be a lot faster in the modern world, but that's the way it is. As though I'm walking there.
"Of course, none of this helps the development of a sporting career, when you can't move around freely and participate in negotiations. But the need to train and prepare for competitions remains, so I have been working on my health and on keeping myself in shape.I won't stop working on behalf of all cancelled athletes either, including myself."
It is unclear as to whether Mazepin will be allowed back into the sport to race under the Russian flag, however, it does not look likely.