The Haas Formula One auto racing team terminated its contract with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and title sponsor Uralkali, ESPN reported Saturday.
The decision by the U.S.-based team, taken after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, means there are no Russian drivers signed up to compete in F1 for the upcoming season.
“Haas F1 Team has elected to terminate, with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver contract of Nikita Mazepin,” the team said in a statement. “As with the rest of the Formula One community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict.”
TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 5, 2022
Mazepin, 23, tweeted that he was “very disappointed” that his contract had been terminated.
“While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from 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,” Mazepin tweeted.
>> Sports stars from Ukraine, Russia react to invasion; organizations take action
Haas said Mazepin’s replacement will be named next week, The Guardian reported.
Mazepin joined Haas at the beginning of the 2021 season as part of a sponsorship deal with Uralkali, a Russian fertilizer company. Mazepin’s father is a part-owner of Uralkali through his company, Uralchem, ESPN reported.
— Nikita Mazepin (@nikita_mazepin) March 5, 2022
The Uralkali deal helped Haas secure financial backing before the 2021 season and resulted in a title sponsorship agreement that saw the car painted in the colors of the Russian flag, the sports network reported.
F1 announced Thursday that it had terminated its deal to hold a race in Russia, according to ESPN.
The 2022 Formula One season begins on March 20 in Bahrain, CNN reported.
©2022 Cox Media Group
