Mazepin calls on F1’s values to be evaluated

Nikita Mazepin called for a reassessment of Formula 1’s values following the Haas-Uralkali disagreement over sponsorship money.

Ahead of the 2021 season, Haas agreed a deal which saw Dmitry Mazepin’s Uralkali firm become their title sponsor, while Dmitry’s son Nikita Mazepin joined their driver line-up alongside Mick Schumacher.

However, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Haas and Uralkali severed ties prior to the 2022 season getting underway, with Nikita Mazepin also dismissed by Haas, though the Russian native can continue in Formula 1 as a neutral racer and was willing to do so.

For Haas though the continued dispute is with Uralkali, with Haas recently rejecting the claim by Uralkali that they were owed $13million [£9.95million] for money already paid to them this season.

On top of that, Haas reportedly demanded $8.6million [£6.55million] in compensation from Uralkali for ‘loss of profit’ as part of their unilateral termination of their contract.

Nikita though feels that if a team, to his mind, is intent on keeping sponsorship money but not honouring their part of the contract, then Formula 1 must take a long look in the mirror.

Speaking to CNN’s Quest means business programme, quoted by Motorsport.com, Mazepin, when asked if his political neutrality over the conflict could harm his F1 comeback hopes, said: “Everybody has a right to speak or not to speak and the FIA, the highest governing body, has enabled me to compete as long as I’m neutral.

“But I would say the biggest issue here is coming back to the sport where teams are allowed to be keeping sponsorship money without fulfilling the contract. And even asking for more, even though they say they don’t want money from Russia. So I’m not sure, but the