SACKED Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin has had more than £100million worth of assets SEIZED by Italian authorities.
The former Haas driver and his oligarch father Dmitry were sanctioned following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
On Monday, Italian financial police seized their luxury villa in the Portisco area of Olbia on the north-east coast of Sardinia.
A spokesperson for the Italian Financial Police told MailOnline: “Following verifications on subjects that are part of the current European Union sanctions list, an impounding order was served on Dmitry Mazepin his and his son Nikita Mazepin, a driver with the Formula 1 team Haas until March 5, on a residential complex worth 105 million Euro and traceable to both through an overseas company.”
The expensive property was in the name of the 23-year-old former F1 driver and his father.
Rocky Ram, as the villa is called, was bought back in 2012 off an Italian newspaper editor.
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It has 25 rooms, luxurious gardens and a large swimming pool.
And it is set on a clifftop with sensational views over the Mediterranean.
According to the Italian Financial Police, the property is owned by a company based in Cyprus called Ferimod Investments.
The company was set up over a decade ago but the ultimate beneficiary is Mazepin.
Mazepin’s father Dmitry has been described on a European Union sanctions list as “a member of the closest circle of Putin.”
He also attended a meeting with the Russian President on February 24, the day Russia’s invasion began.
Dmitry was also a significant stakeholder in the former Haas sponsor Uralkali, a fertiliser producer.
But son Niklas was dropped by Haas last month before the 2022 season was due to get underway.
The Russian has blamed his Haas sacking on “cancel culture against his country.”
Speaking to the BBC, Mazepin moaned: “I don’t agree with being in the sanctions.
“I’ve said before I agree to fight it.
“Perhaps now is not the right time.
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“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”.
