Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin said that, despite the lifting of sanctions against him by Swiss authorities and the European Union, he has no plans to return to Formula 1.
The decision to remove Mazepin from the Swiss sanctions list was taken on September 24. Previously, the Russian was excluded from European Union sanctions.
“More than two long years have passed and the court has ruled in my favor. Of course I’m happy. At the same time, I wonder why all this was necessary: to be sanctioned at the most important moment of my career, only for the European Court to later decide that it was all a huge mistake.
Time puts everything back in its place. And I had enough time to reflect on my past and my future. I think I can now say that the first phase of my life was truly shaped and dedicated to becoming the best in motorsport. The love of speed. The thrill of competition. I went through karting, then Formula 3 and Formula 2. The quest for a place in Formula 1. And partly this dream came true, I tasted this world and I fell in love with it. For real. This season has been difficult and I have had to take some public blows. But I lived with the promise of next season, with a new car and a bit of experience under my belt.
As we all know, that season didn’t happen. The reasons are also known to everyone. This is how my first act ended abruptly. It was painful to see everyone in Formula 1 moving forward without being part of it. Being acquitted in court is great, but the truth is I can’t get those years back… those important years in the life and development of any professional athlete. So now, at the age of 25, I realize it’s time to look to the future, not the past. It’s time to write the next act of my adult life, in which dreams are not about speed and trophies, but about using your mind and finding your purpose. This will happen if I complete my studies, work hard, and take care of my mind along the way.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me – and even those who haven’t – throughout my racing career. All of this made me stronger. And although I have no plans to return to Formula 1, I will be happy to share with you news of my next steps,” Mazepin wrote on his social media page.
In March, the European Court of General Jurisdiction decided to lift the European sanctions imposed against the Russian racing driver. The resolution emphasizes that the sole family connection with his father Dmitry Mazepin is not enough for sanctions to apply to the athlete. In 2022, he was included in the list of persons subject to restrictive measures adopted by the EU in connection with the situation in Ukraine. This notably led to the freezing of its funds and a ban on entry into the territory of EU member states.
Mazepin competed for the American Haas team in Formula 1 in the 2021 season and took 21st place in the final standings. In March 2022, it was announced that the team was ending its cooperation with the Russian. In early spring 2023, the European Court ruled that Mazepin had the right to enter the EU to participate in races, Grands Prix, training and testing.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Mary James, a passionate journalist and content creator who enjoys writing about the world of sports. I specialize in covering racing-related news for athletistic, one of the top websites dedicated to this topic. With my expertise in motorsports, I have been able to write compelling stories that captivate readers all over the world.
