Nikita Mazepin has reacted to Haas' announcement that it has terminated its partnership with Uralkali and dropped him in the process, the Russian driver revealing that he was fully prepared to agree to the FIA's terms.

On Friday, the FIA announced a number of measures whereby drivers from Russia and Belarus could continue to participate in sanctioned events, these included denouncing the invasion of Ukraine, not sporting any symbols representing their country or even singing their national anthems.

In a post to social media in response to today's announcement from Haas, Mazepin reveals he was fully prepared to agree to the FIA's terms but Haas wasn't interested.

"I am very disappointed to hear that my F1 contract has been terminated," he wrote. "While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from the FIA plus my ongoing willingness to accept the conditions proposed in order to continue were completely ignored and no process was followed in this unilateral step.

"To those who have tried to understand, my eternal thanks. I have treasured my time in F1 and genuinely hope we can all be together again in the better times. I will have more to say in the coming days."

Of course, losing the Russian driver was one thing as far as Haas was concerned, losing his substantial backing, courtesy of Uralkali, quite another.

Mazepin was never given the seat at Haas on account of his driving prowess.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 08/03/2022 0:17

"This was only ever going to travel one way. The signing of the FIA document was dead certain to be a one way ticket to a 'gulag' for an extended visit. That or a polonium sandwich followed closely by a Novichok cocktail. No doubt Kvyat and Rusinoff of team G Drive saw the same and chose to sit it out. Given the atrocities we are witnessing daily Russia and any connection to motorsport needs to be excised totally. Russian hit squads roaming the streets indiscriminately shooting innocent people is abhorrent to decent people and cannot ever be sanctioned. For Rusinoff to declare that it was 'discriminatory' in the face of reality is disgusting."

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2. Posted by meatball, 07/03/2022 16:02

"And STILL to this day this clown won't publicly address, let alone denounce, the illegal attack Russia is perpetrating on a peaceful sovereign nation. There are dead civilians lining the streets, they attack apartment buildings to bully a surrender? No. And eff this guy all the way back to uncle vlad's bunker where he'll be whining to daddy about his hobby being spoiled. Pick up a weapon and fight! But daddy's money will keep you out of the trenches won't it."

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3. Posted by KKK, 05/03/2022 22:56

"To be honest, we should all be united in supporting Ukraine. Anything that Russia is involved or even hinted at being involved uan peoplshould be stopped. I feel sorry for Russian people. They havnt got a clue what's going on, and the only way we can make Putin realise that he will eventually lose, is to stop any support of Russia"

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4. Posted by BillH, 05/03/2022 18:57

"That was a rather inevitable outcome.

@ian_w is correct in that F1 needs to clean it's act up.

Then again, other teams may have to do what has has done too in regard to sponsors.

For example, is the cyber security firm sponsoring Ferrari also at risk of being removed from F1?

That would be more complicated for the race team as the sponsor's product is probably imbedded throughout the teams back end systems and trackside too.

The company does say they are fully independent of any government organisation however does this matter if Ferrari are concerned about their own image?
"

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5. Posted by Defiant, 05/03/2022 15:43

"I'm pretty sure he won't be missed by many spectators, it's not like he was an outstanding talent is it.

However, Haas (the DTS media whores) have just gone the route of virtue signalling. I wont miss Gene or Gunther when they disappear either. Which will probably be sooner rather than later."

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6. Posted by jo6pac, 05/03/2022 13:47

"Will haas even have the money to finish the season? He didn't deserve this it should have been that he wasn't good enough to be in f-1"

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7. Posted by ian_w, 05/03/2022 11:41

"Given that it was just over 4 months ago that pitpass reported on Mazepin's progress at Moscow State University towards graduating with a military education and status as a military reserve officer (https://www.pitpass.com/70889/Things-are-not-bad-says-Mazepin-of-his-military-career), I find it rather implausible for him to sign papers that would compromise his and his family's position and put him in conflict with Putin.

If the paralymians can't compete in a quadrennial single shot a t glory, then those privileged by tainted money should not be entitled to pay for play in the world's most elite sport.

The FIA and F1 also need to more closely examine their relationships/dependancies with other autocrats, oligarchs and suppressive governments."

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8. Posted by Max Noble, 05/03/2022 11:29

"“Our Lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

Recommend Nikita goes to Ukraine and holds dead children in his hands, while repeating these words. “Your child is dead, but it is totally cool for me to keep racing…” seriously. We are talking all out war here. Not a infraction of track limits at turn seven…

As other fine writes on this esteemed site have written “…follow the money…”

We cannot stand by and let the blood flow, while the sport remains…
"

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9. Posted by Wokingchap, 05/03/2022 11:15

"I'm afraid there may be a team who needs daddy's money in 'better times' (as he puts it).... a sad thought in more ways than one."

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Mazepin reacts to Haas decision

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