Nikita Mazepin hasn’t given up hope he may return to Formula 1 in the future after losing his drive following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Haas confirmed it had terminated its deals with Mazepin and his father’s company Uralkali nine days after the invasion began. The pair were sanctioned by the European Union soon afterwards.
The FIA is permitting Russian drivers to compete providing they do so as neutrals and sign a commitment assuring they will not express support for the war. Mazepin indicated he was prepared to participate on those terms, as one Russian competitor in Formula 3 is doing.
He told the BBC he had a four-year deal to drive for Haas and was surprised by their decision to terminate his contract.
“I was sent an email which had about five or six words in it with a letter attached saying that my contract is terminated, and it was just put in a legal way beforehand,” he said. “My manager was speaking to the team boss who said that as long as the FIA, which is…