Nikita Mazepin hits out at Russian 'cancel culture' after F1 axing

Russia's Nikita Mazepin has issued a defiant new statement over his controversial Formula One axing after hitting out at the 'cancel culture' against his country's sporting stars.

Mazepin was dumped by US-based F1 team Haas in the wake of Russia's bloody invasion of Ukraine.

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The 23-year-old was dismissed by Haas ahead of the 2022 season after both he and his father, oligarch businessman Dmitry Mazepin, were sanctioned by the European Union.

Numerous other sports have also moved to ban Russian athletes and teams in wake of the country's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

However, exiled F1 driver Mazepin does not believe it is fair that Russian stars have been made to pay for the actions of their country's leaders.

The 23-year-old says he fully intends to challenge his axing by Haas and overturn the sanctions imposed on him.

"I don't agree with being in the sanctions," Mazepin told BBC's Hardtalk programme.

"I've said previously that I intend to fight it.

"Perhaps now is not the right time because if you look at the whole situation that's happening against athletes in the general case, it's cancel culture against my country."

Dmitry Mazepin has close ties to Vladimir Putin

Mazepin's father Dmitry has close ties to Vladimir Putin, holding face-to-face business talks with the Russian president as recently as January.

Dmitry Mazepin is deputy chairman of Uralkali, the potash producer that has been a major financial backer of Haas.

As well as ousting Mazepin, Haas announced last month that the commercial link with Uralkali has also been scrapped with immediate effect.

The Russian Grand Prix for 2022 has also been cancelled, with F1 announcing it has terminated its deal for future races in the country.

Despite his father's links with Putin, Nikita Mazepin insisted his only connection to the president "is through the sport that I do".

Asked for his thoughts on the ongoing events across Ukraine, Mazepin added: "It's very painful to watch that on many levels.

"My feeling obviously changed as a human being and as a person who wants to live in a very peaceful world.

"But I see tremendous risks in saying anything at all about this case because I will never satisfy everyone and therefore I will keep myself publicly quiet."

Mazepin finished last in the drivers' standings in 2021 after failing to score a point.

with agencies