{"id":293496,"date":"2023-09-22T11:34:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293496"},"modified":"2023-09-22T11:34:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:34:57","slug":"f1-bad-boy-nikita-mazepin-now-fighting-uk-government-jet-set-life-and-djing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/racing\/f1\/f1-bad-boy-nikita-mazepin-now-fighting-uk-government-jet-set-life-and-djing\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 bad boy Nikita Mazepin now \u2013 fighting UK government, jet-set life and DJing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    It\u2019s 18 months since Nikita Mazepin was booted out of F1 in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. <\/p>\n

    Mazepin \u2013 or \u2018Mazespin\u2019 as he became known following his error-strewn debut season \u2013 was dumped by Haas as the sport distanced itself from Vladimir Putin\u2019s vile regime. Mazepin\u2019s father Dmitry, whose sponsorship cash bought his son a seat at Haas, is an alleged close associate of the Russian tyrant. <\/p>\n

    Therefore, few in the sport were sad to see the back of the pair. However, Mazepin Jr didn\u2019t go quietly, claiming his sacking was unjust and that sport and politics shouldn\u2019t mix.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: F1 bad boy Nikita Mazepin speaks about Russia\u2019s Ukraine war \u2013 and says he\u2019s \u2018neutral\u2019 <\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Disgraced star Nikita Mazepin says he will not 'give up his country' for return to F1 <\/b><\/p>\n

    \u201cWe must understand that the politicisation of sports will divide not only the entire sporting and Olympic movement, but will affect all social spheres of life in the future,\u201d he moaned last year.<\/p>\n

    \u201cTherefore, sports should remain neutral territory and I, as a representative of this caste, should also maintain neutrality. Some will say that it is inaction or fear to express one\u2019s position. But in this case, for me neutrality is a position.\u201d<\/p>\n

    What do you think about Nikita Mazepin's desire to get back into F1? Tell us in the comments section below<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

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    Since then Mazepin has been busy, with his schedule since F1 including a DJ set at a Russian football stadium. This summer he has travelled around South America while his Instagram feed is littered with shots of him running and undertaking other forms of exercise.<\/p>\n

    Oh, and he has also been embroiled in a battle with the British government over Russian sanctions. He even tried to take legal action against foreign secretary James Cleverly.<\/p>\n

    Amid all that, Mazepin still reckons he deserves a spot on the F1 grid, despite being wholly outclassed by Mick Schumacher during the 2021 season. In June, lawyers representing Mazepin appeared at London\u2019s High Court asking for an interim suspension of sanctions so he could travel to the UK to hold talks with F1 teams.<\/p>\n

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    The application was flatly dismissed, meaning the Mazepins remains barred from the UK. Lawyers representing the government said sanctions were a \u201ckey aspect\u201d of Britain\u2019s attempts to \u201caddress the situation\u201d in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

    Lawyers representing Mazepin complained that he has been sanctioned \u201conly\u201d because he is \u201chis father\u2019s son\u201d. They told the judge there was no evidence that he supported the Russian regime or Russia\u2019s \u201cactions\u201d in Ukraine \u2013 and argued that the sanctions were \u201cunfair\u201d and \u201cdraconian\u201d.<\/p>\n