Nikita Mazepin said the sanctions imposed on Russia due to their invasion of Ukraine are part of ‘cancel culture’. The 22-year-old saw his F1 journey halted as Haas axed him before the beginning of the season, and also cut ties with Russian fertiliser company Uralkali, owned by Mazepin's oligarch father, Dmitry.
The father-son duo were then included on a list of individuals sanctioned by the European Union due to their connection to Vladimir Putin, who ordered February’s war on Ukraine. “I don’t agree with being in the sanctions,” he told BBC. “I’ve said before I agree to fight it.
“Perhaps now is not the right time. If you look at the whole situation that is happening against athletes in the general case, it’s cancel culture against my country.” The Russian has been replaced by Kevin Magnussen at Haas, who has enjoyed an impressive start on his return to F1.
