Former Method 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has accomplished a GT3 check in Hungary after the sanctions imposed in opposition to him by the European Union have been lifted in the beginning of the 12 months.
In a ruling by the European Union’s Common Courtroom on 20 March, Mazepin was faraway from the record of people who had been sanctioned within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The EU had reasoned that there have been no apparent hyperlinks between the 25-year-old and his father Dmitry, who was additionally placed on the sanction record, past their apparent household ties. Therefore, it concluded that there was no cause for him to stay topic to any restrictive measures.
After the Council of the EU determined to not enchantment the choice of the courtroom, the judgement to annul the sanctions took full impact on 30 Might, permitting Mazepin to return to the EU for the primary time in years.
The Russian driver took benefit of the choice to journey to the brand new Balton Park Circuit in Hungary to check an LMGT3 automobile, believed to be a Ferrari 296 GT3, as he continues to search for extra alternatives in racing.
“I’m joyful the EU has acknowledged that athletes like myself who haven’t any relation to politics shouldn’t be positioned underneath sanctions,” he stated of the choice.
“It’s my hope that each one athletes who’re at present prevented from taking part in worldwide competitions resulting from geopolitics will probably be returned to their rightful place within the sporting group.”
Nikita Mazepin, Ferrari 296 GT3 at Balton Park, Hungary
Photograph by: Nikita Mazepin
Mazepin misplaced his F1 drive after a single season with Haas in 2021 after the American group terminated their contract within the wake of Russia attacking neighbour Ukraine in early 2022.
It additionally ended its sponsorship settlement with Uralkali, a Russian fertiliser firm run by Mazepin’s father Dmitry.
Haas and Uralkali subsequently went to courtroom, with the latter demanding a refund of $13 million after claiming that its contract had been breached.
It was solely final month {that a} Swiss arbitration court issued a ruling for this long-running case, with Haas allowed to maintain a portion of the sponsorship price that lined their settlement till it was terminated on 4 March, 2022 – and required to refund the remaining quantity.
Autosport understands that Haas has to return a sum of round $9 million out of the $13 million that Uralkali had paid prematurely for the second 12 months of their contract in 2022. As well as, the outfit has to pay Nikita Mazepin his full wage for a similar season, plus authorized prices.