Photo: Twitter / Nikita Mazepin
In March this year, Nikita Mazepin’s Formula One dreams came to an end after just one season with the Haas Team, as F1’s sanctioning body decided he would be barred from the sports. The decision came as a result of new sanctions against Russia and Russian oligarchs in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
On February 24, Russia started the invasion of Ukraine, and international authorities have been issuing a string of sanctions against Russian oligarchs and Putin allies ever since. In March, Nikita Mazepin’s Formula One dreams were dashed when he and his father’s company were more or less unceremoniously booted from the F1.
Nikita Mazepin had previously tried to race as a neutral athlete, but the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) ruled for his elimination from the Haas Team – unilaterally, according to Mazepin himself, who said he was given no option to respond or otherwise engage in the conversation. At the same time, his father’s company, Uralkali, was dropped as a sponsor. Still, Mazepin said he accepted the decision and, only days later, announced that he would be using the Uralkali sponsorship money for a sports foundation, one that would presumably not dabble into politics like the F1.
While Mazepin is keeping busy, he and his family are taking another hit: Reuters reports that Italian authorities have seized more than $114 million worth of property belonging to him and his family. Mazepin, the father, Dmitry, is said to have close ties to President Vladimir Putin, which is why the entire family landed on the sanctions list – Nikita included.
The property in question is a villa in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, known as Rocky Ram. L’unione Sarda describes it as a Russian enclave, part gated community, part underground (luxury) bunker, a mysterious and well-guarded compound whose outlines you can barely guess from satellite imagery. The Mazepins are believed to own the place, but presumably only to cover for Putin, who is the direct beneficiary.
Neither Mazepin was available for comment on the seizure.
Nikita Mazepin had previously tried to race as a neutral athlete, but the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) ruled for his elimination from the Haas Team – unilaterally, according to Mazepin himself, who said he was given no option to respond or otherwise engage in the conversation. At the same time, his father’s company, Uralkali, was dropped as a sponsor. Still, Mazepin said he accepted the decision and, only days later, announced that he would be using the Uralkali sponsorship money for a sports foundation, one that would presumably not dabble into politics like the F1.
While Mazepin is keeping busy, he and his family are taking another hit: Reuters reports that Italian authorities have seized more than $114 million worth of property belonging to him and his family. Mazepin, the father, Dmitry, is said to have close ties to President Vladimir Putin, which is why the entire family landed on the sanctions list – Nikita included.
The property in question is a villa in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, known as Rocky Ram. L’unione Sarda describes it as a Russian enclave, part gated community, part underground (luxury) bunker, a mysterious and well-guarded compound whose outlines you can barely guess from satellite imagery. The Mazepins are believed to own the place, but presumably only to cover for Putin, who is the direct beneficiary.
Neither Mazepin was available for comment on the seizure.
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