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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.
Nikita Mazepin was present for Haas testing in Barcelona back in FebruaryCredit: Getty
Dmitry Mazepin has been sanctioned by the EUCredit: Getty
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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SPORT.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}DOWN UNDER .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}F1 Australian Grand Prix: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel, practice
“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”.
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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.
Kevin Magnessen has enjoyed a great start to the seasonCredit: Getty More

LEWIS HAMILTON could be on collision course with the new FIA race boss, who want to ban his jewellery.Niels Wittich, who has replaced axed race director Michael Masi after he failed to follow the rules in the final race of last season, has taken the unusual step of reminding drivers they cannot wear jewellery when they race.
Lewis Hamilton could face a fine over his nose studCredit: Getty
Writing in the event notes for this weekend’s Australian GP in Melbourne, the German has reminded drivers of the sporting code.
He said: “The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition & may therefore be checked before the start.”
While this is not a change to the rulebook, as the FIA first started clamping down on drivers wearing chains and body piercings back in 2005, it is unusual for it to resurface.
The FIA are adamant that the move is NOT targeted at any particular driver – although Hamilton has raced with a nose piercing, while others also wear rings and bracelets.
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Instead they say that Wittich wants to ensure that the rules are adhered to on the basis of safety.
While no driver has been punished for wearing jewellery under their racesuits, in Formula E Lucas di Grassi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Andre Lotterer were all punished with £8,500 fines for having non-confirming underwear.
Should F1’s drivers fail a pre-race inspection themselves on Sunday, then it is likely they will also be fined.
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has played down his team’s chances of rediscovering their pace in Melbourne.
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The Silver Arrow was only third quickest in the opening two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and was suffering with aerodynamic problems.
However, Wolff says they can expect no “magic fix” this weekend in Australia.
He said: “We are in a learning race and the first two weekends have shown we still have plenty to learn.
“At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions.
“There won’t be a magic fix for the next race weekend, but we’re pushing to steadily bring gains over the upcoming races, to hopefully move us closer to the front of the pack.
“Until then, we need to maximise each opportunity and make the most of the package we have.”
Toto Wolff has played down Mercedes’ chances of rediscovering their pace in MelbourneCredit: Rex More

LEWIS HAMILTON has shared a photo of himself alongside Mercedes team-mate George Russell as the pair prepare for the Australian Grand Prix.The duo touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday as Mercedes look to kickstart their season.
Lewis Hamilton has got off to a slow start in the 2022 F1 World ChampionshipsCredit: The Mega Agency
Lewis Hamilton shared a photo of himself in the gym with George Russell
The first two grand prix have not gone according to plan with Hamilton picking up 16 points.
Team-mate Russell has managed six more than Hamilton and both will be looking for a podium after missing out in Saudi Arabia.
They have been training in the gym ahead of the race which is where Hamilton took the snap of them both.
And he captioned the post: “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
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Both smiled at the camera as Russell lifted a kettle bell in the background.
The Mercedes team will be hoping for a much improved performance down under.
And they may be quietly confident heading into the race too since Hamilton has made pole in every Australian Grand Prix since 2014.
Following the Saudi debacle, Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff is believed to be overseeing car upgrades in time for this weekend’s race.
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Hamilton, meanwhile, enjoyed a rest day after landing – during which he decided to go sky diving.
The thrill-seeker wrote “Rest day, best day!!” as he posted about his sky diving exploits on social media.
Wolff admitted to Sky Sports that his team’s start to the season has been an “exercise in humility”.
He said: “We were right in the middle of those fun games at the front for eight years.
“It’s extremely painful to not be part of those games by quite a chunk of lap-time deficit. It’s no fun at all.
“It’s an exercise in humility and it’s going to make us stronger in the end, even though it’s not fun right now.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON posed for a picture with a young fan after arriving in Melbourne ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.The Brit had just made the long trip Down Under, but still had time to make a kid’s day by stopping for a photo.
Lewis Hamilton posed for a photo with a young fanCredit: Splash
The Brit arrived in Melbourne after a long tripCredit: Splash
Hamilton, 37, will be hoping for an improved showing this weekendCredit: Splash
Hamilton, 37, will be hoping to take some good vibes into this weekend after a rocky start to the season.
Amid Mercedes’ early struggles to compete at the front of the grid, the seven-time world champion scraped just one point in Saudi Arabia after slumping to tenth.
The performance followed a dismal qualifying during which Hamilton was eliminated in Q1.
Hamilton has a great record in Melbourne, having achieved pole position in every year since cars went hybrid in 2014.
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15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Read More F1.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}IT’S BAD WOLFF .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Mercedes boss Wolff ‘not having fun’ after Lewis’ poor start to F1 season
But he’ll require something miraculous to extend that record this weekend.
Following the Saudi debacle, Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff is believed to be overseeing car upgrades in time for this weekend’s race.
Hamilton, meanwhile, enjoyed a rest day – during which he decided to go sky diving.
The thrill-seeker wrote “Rest day, best day!!” as he posted about his sky diving exploits on social media.
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Hamilton is fifth in the early driver standings – having picked up 15 points for his podium finish in Bahrain before adding another for his tenth place outing in Saudi Arabia.
Wolff admitted to Sky Sports that his team’s start to the season has been an “exercise in humility”.
He said: “We were right in the middle of those fun games at the front for eight years.
“It’s extremely painful to not be part of those games by quite a chunk of lap-time deficit. It’s no fun at all.
“It’s an exercise in humility and it’s going to make us stronger in the end, even though it’s not fun right now.”
Toto Wolff is plotting how to get Mercedes competing at the front of the grid againCredit: Rex More