08 June 2023 , 18:45
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Nikita Mazepin had his legal fight against sanctions imposed against him by the UK rejected by the High Court.
Mazepin and his oligarch father Dmitry were sanctioned in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The latter is believed to have close ties to Vladimir Putin.
The European Union and Canada also imposed sanctions against the former Formula 1 driver. Mazepin issued a legal challenge against the UK's sanctions, which was dismissed by a High Court judge.
Part of the sanctions means Mazepin's UK assets have been frozen. It also means a travel ban is in place preventing him from entering the UK – which was what the Russian racer was fighting.
His lawyers argued that he needed the sanctions to be lifted so he could travel to the UK to negotiate with F1 teams over his future. It is a strong indicator that he still harbours hopes of returning to the sport.
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But the judge said he was "quite satisfied" with the evidence against his sanctions being lifted. They also suggested no F1 team would likely agree a deal with Mazepin until he was no longer under sanctions.
Mazepin's lawyers declared the sanctions to be "unfair" and "draconian". They also argued there was no evidence to suggest the racer is supportive of Putin's war in Ukraine.
Mazepin spent just one season in F1 racing for Haas (Getty Images)Lawyers representing the Foreign Office said Mazepin would still be able to negotiate with F1 teams even without being able to enter the UK and while still under sanction. Another trial brought by Mazepin, this time against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, will begin next month.
Mazepin made his F1 debut for Haas in 2021 as a rookie alongside Mick Schumacher and finished the year pointless. He was due to get a second season with the team but was axed weeks before the start of the 2022 season in response to the invasion.
Still, he insists he has a chance of one day returning to the grid. He said in January: "There is the desire, of course, to continue to compete in motorsport. My goal is to return to Formula 1 so that is the direction I will work in."