NIKITA MAZEPIN has been sacked by his Formula 1 team Haas, according to reports.
It was announced by the FIA earlier this week that Russian driver Mazepin would be able to race under a neutral flag this season following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Haas have parted ways with Russian driver Mazepin
Fittipaldi looks set to replace Mazepin in the Haas car
But he has been banned from driving the British Grand Prix after Motorsport UK blocked all Russian and Belarussian racers from competing.
And Sky Deutschland are now reporting that Haas have parted ways with Mazepin.
Pietro Fittipaldi is expected to partner Mick Schumacher at Haas.
Nikita Mazepin’s father, billionaire oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, has close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Yesterday at an extraordinary meeting led by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the World Motor Sport Council agreed that competitors holding Russian and Belarussian racing licences could still race under an “FIA flag”.
But Motorsport UK has gone one step further by stopping them, including Mazepin, from competing.
A Motorsport UK statement read: “No Russian/Belarusian licenced teams are approved to enter motorsport competitions in the UK.
“No Russian/Belarusian licenced competitors and officials are approved to participate in UK motorsport events.
“No Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (on uniform, equipment and car) to be displayed at Motorsport UK permitted events.
“The Motorsport UK decision was made in full consultation with the UK Government and national sports governing bodies to ensure that there is a unilateral response to the crisis.”
The 2022 F1 season is due to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.
