NIKITA MAZEPIN has blamed his Haas sacking on “cancel culture against his country”.
The Russian was axed just days before his father Dmitry was sanctioned by the EU after the invasion of Ukraine, amid apparent ties to Vladimir Putin.
Mazepin, 23, struggled during his one year in Formula 1, failing to pick up a single point throughout last year’s campaign.
He was axed by team principal Guenther Steiner ahead of this year’s opener in Bahrain and replaced by Kevin Magnussen.
Speaking to the BBC, Mazepin moaned: “I don’t agree with being in the sanctions.
“I’ve said before I agree to fight it.
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“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.”
Nikita has been described by the EU sanctions list as a “person associated with a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the government of the Russian Federation”.
While his dad Dmitry was called a “member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin”.
While bemoaning his Haas sacking, Mazepin has described the situation in Ukraine as “painful”.
He said: “It’s very painful to watch that on many levels.”
Mazepin’s replacement Magnussen has enjoyed a great start to the F1 season in the improved Haas.
The Dane was absent from initial testing in Barcelona back in February, which came prior to Nikita’s axing.
But he has since taken to his new wheels well – bagging 12 points from his first two races.
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