F1 team Haas sack Nikita Mazepin, son of Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin, and call for peace in Ukraine

Formula 1 team Haas have terminated the contract of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and called for peace in Ukraine.

American-owned Haas have also split with title sponsor Uralkali, a Russian fertiliser company part-owned by Mazepin’s father, with immediate effect as the war in eastern Europe continues.

The FIA were last week considering barring Mazepin, 23, from competing in this season’s F1 championship, after the International Olympic Committee recommended sports bans for all Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events.

They ultimately decided not to ban Mazepin and instead said he would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, but the driver has now been dropped by his team.

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‘Haas F1 team has elected to terminate, with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver contract of Nikita Mazepin,’ a statement read.

<p lang=«en» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«en»>TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV

‘As with the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict.’

Mazepin’s father Dmitry is an oligarch with close links to Vladimir Putin and attended a one-to-one meeting with the Russian President on the same day he launched a military invasion of Ukraine.

Former Russian F1 driver Daniil Kvyat wants his compatriot to be allowed to keep racing.

He said on social media earlier this week: ‘I also would like to highlight and address all sports federations across the world including [the] IOC that sport should remain outside politics and disallowing Russian athletes and teams from participating in world