In a recent development, Nikita Mazepin has decided to take Canada to court following the sanctions imposed against him. Reports say that the former Haas driver is expected to challenge the higher authorities of Canada that hindered his racing chances in the country.
According to a report published by CP24, Mazepin will contest against the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the country. The contest is to be in the Federal Court in order to direct Minister Mélanie Joly to take steps and remove Mazepin from the sanctions.
Nikita Mazepin is reportedly among 14 Russians considered to be oligarchs, family members or close associates of the Russian regime by Canada.
That’s left him unable to enter Canada, and similarly he’s only allowed to enter the EU as a result of an appeal on a very similar ban. pic.twitter.com/398uFelsu1
— MSportBanter 🏁 (@MSportBanter) April 23, 2023
The Russian driver said that he expects Joly to make a decision on his application and take him off the sanction list with immediate effect or within five working days.
The former F1 driver will also be asking the court to give him interim relief. This is because he wants to take part in racing activities in Canada and stay away from further sanctions against him in the future.
Why was Nikita Mazepin sanctioned?
The sanction against Mazepin has come right after Russia’s conflict with Ukraine began in February last year. As the war broke out between the two countries, European Union, the United States and multiple countries including Canada banned Russian individuals.
The ban has come to stop the Russians from taking part in any activities around the world, which included sports. Being a Russian, the 24-year-old immediately lost his seat in Haas, and subsequently in F1.
The FIA will hold an “extraordinary meeting” today which could see Haas’ Russian driver Nikita Mazepin banned from the sport.pic.twitter.com/TB5ZqfMld2
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 1, 2022
Furthermore, Mazepin’s ban had a strong reason as his businessman father Dmitry Mazepin was believed to have had strong ties with the Russian government. Reports said that Mazepin Sr. was a close ally of the Russian president Vladimir Putin and one of 14 Oligarchs.
Will Mazepin return to Formula 1?
For now, it’s impossible to say if the Russian driver will make his F1 return in the future. Since high tension is still there between Russia and the rest of the world, Nikita Mazepin is believed not to take part in the sport anytime soon.
However, the 24-year-old took part in the Asian Le Mans endurance racing series this year. This has come after he was granted interim relief to race in European Union.
But there’s still a silver lining for Nikita Mazepin. Mazepin’s recent notice to continue racing states that he is a “Young sportsman and professional motorsport driver who is in no way involved in the aggression suffered by Ukraine.”
Hence, it’ll be interesting to see if the former Haas F1 driver receives a chance to race in the future. And most importantly makes his return to Formula 1, his long-time dream that he lost under tough circumstances.
