‘I don’t trust them!’ Sacked Russian F1 star Nikita Mazepin hits out at former team

Sacked Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin revealed he received a message of support from Britain’s George Russell following his dismissal by Haas and claims he no longer trusts his former team.

The Russian driver, speaking for the first time since he was fired, said he discovered his contract was terminated through a press release, and did not rule out taking legal action against his former employers.

Mazepin’s father, oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, is a part-owner of Haas’ former title sponsor, Uralkali – a contract which was also torn up – and an associate of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Uralkali published a statement on Wednesday demanding ‘immediate reimbursement’ of money already transferred to Haas for the forthcoming season.

The FIA has allowed Russian drivers to continue under a neutral flag following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

But the sporting federation also said all drivers must agree to its principles of peace and neutrality and ‘acknowledge the strong commitment made by the FIA to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and all of those suffering as a result of the ongoing conflict’.

Mazepin said he did not consider signing the document because he was dismissed by Haas the following day.

‘I appreciated the small number of drivers who expressed their support for me,’ said Mazepin, speaking from Moscow. Sergio (Perez), Valtteri (Bottas), Charles (Leclerc) and George (Russell) all contacted me.

‘They know how important the situation is, and they showed their support after I lost the opportunity to compete.

Mazepin also announced the creation of a foundation called, We Compete As One, to support athletes ‘forbidden from competing, and collectively punished just because of the passports they hold’.

Mazepin was