Former Haas rider Nikita Mazepin is suing the Canadian government over the ban on competing in the country linked to his Russian citizenship. He also plans to return to F1.

Nikita Mazepin is once again in the conversation. A year after his expulsion from the Haas team as part of post-Ukraine sanctions against Russia, the driver is reportedly filing a complaint against the Canadian government CTV News. According to him, these sanctions are detrimental to his career and should be withdrawn by Canada.

Mazepin also claims to be eligible to compete again in the country, while being eligible to race in Europe again as of last March. “I’m very happy about this decision, which gives me hope of resuming my professional career in international racing,” he enthused afterwards.

Sanctioned due to his father’s status as an oligarch

A trend confirmed by his complaint, which says the sanctions are “disastrously reducing” a return to F1 next season. In his only year in the discipline, he finished last in the Drivers’ Championship without taking a single point or finishing higher than 14th at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

As a reminder, his father Dmitry owns the Uralkari company, which was a sponsor of the Haas team until he retired when sanctions were lifted. Considered an oligarch, he still prevents his son from returning to compete in Canada. The matter is urgent as negotiations for transfers in the category are expected to start in spring or summer, they said.

“In no way involved in the aggression suffered by Ukraine”

Mazepin’s lawsuit, filed with the court, states that he is “a young sportsman and professional motorsport enthusiast who is in no way involved in the aggression suffered by Ukraine,” nor does he operate in sectors of the economy that generate significant revenue for Russia. In an interview last September, the driver said he would rather stop driving than give up his nationality and race under a neutral banner.

“It will be extremely difficult – if not impossible – for him to be recruited back as an F1 driver or as a driver in other motorsport championships” if he misses the boat for next season, also takes into account the complaint. The motion formulated in December to lift the sanctions against Nikita Mazepin was not followed up.