Haas terminates contracts with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and title sponsor Uralkali

 

 

The Haas team has sacked Russian driver Nikita Mazepin as a result of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

The team’s title sponsor, the Russian chemicals company Uralkali, has likewise cancelled their deal.

Mazepin’s billionaire father Dmitry, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, owns a stake in Uralkali through his firm Uralchem.

Mazepin’s replacement will be announced early next week, according to Haas.

The team’s reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi, who stood in for Romain Grosjean for two races at the end of 2020 after the Frenchman’s fiery accident in Bahrain, Indian Formula 2 driver Jehan Daruvala, and Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri, the reigning F2 champion, are among the drivers said to be under consideration.

 

Mazepin said he was “disappointed” to have his contract terminated and that his “willingness to accept the conditions proposed in order to continue were completely ignored”.