Mazepin back in the EU: 'Need to train and keep myself in shape'
It has been a year and a half since Nikita Mazepin lost his Formula 1 seat. The Haas team chose to replace the Russian with Kevin Magnussen after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU imposed sanctions on the son of Russian oligarch-businessman Dmitri Mazepin because his father was seen as a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now, almost 600 days later, Nikita is allowed to return to an EU country for the first time to train.
Mazepin's Formula 1 career wasn't the smoothest. The Russian received a lot of criticism from fans, but also from his fellow drivers. He was nicknamed 'Mazespin', which team boss Guenther Steiner made a joke of by giving the then Haas driver toys that could spin.
Mazepin back on EU soil
In July, the European court decided that some of the sanctions imposed on Mazepin were unjustified and that this would allow him to re-enter the EU. The Russian revealed through an Instagram post that he is in Italy. Despite now being allowed back into an EU country, he revealed on Instagram he is not happy with how fast the process is going: "I was allowed into Italy on a national visa, but that was as far as I was permitted to go. It would seem that the journey should be a lot faster in the modern world, but that's the way it is. As though I'm walking there."
It seems unlikely that Mazepin will return to Formula 1. The former Haas driver himself says: "Of course, none of this helps the development of a sporting career when you can't move around freely and participate in negotiations. But the need to train and prepare for competitions remains, so I have been working on my health and on keeping myself in shape."
Sad he got cancelled for being Russian. Politics should not interfere with sports. He wasn't responsible for whatever happened.
Normally I agree with you in this case I respectfully do not. After viewing bombed out buildings with the dead on the ground including hospitals and schools I am an advocate for using every sanction possible to support undermining Putin and possibly seeing regime change. I especially support sanctioning oligarchs and their families.
I ask myself why there has been no sanctions against western athletes when their respective governments invaded other countries. Also there's plenty of oligarchs in western countries and nobody calls them oligarchs and no sanctions against them either. ?
True All governments are corrupt in some ways but do you not agree that the level of corruption and brutality inside Russia and with their war on Ukraine is next level?
I see, The Troubles. There are some common points with UA. Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts about Ireland and northern Ireland being separated and also about the happy Friday agreement. Was it helpful to establish peace?
I think the first reason why it affected the world is the media coverage being way more intense now. At least in western countries. Media coverage about what was going on in eastern and south UA way before 2014 did get very little coverage by some, but completely ignored by the mainstream media. The second reason might be the sanctions against Russia and the destruction of NS1 and NS2. It's hitting some European countries pretty hard. Prizes are rising. It feels like Europe is sanctioning itself more than it is sanctioning Russia. I don't know how it looks like on the other side of the big pond though. Ps: may I ask from what country you are from originally? But it's ok if you don't want to tell me, no problem at all ?
Thank you for that conversation J41L I really respect and enjoy your perspective
Great comment! I totally agree ? The conflict in UA can be stopped pretty fast, which makes it even more sad. If you want peace, you send diplomats. If you want to fight, you sent weapons. Right now we're still sending weapons. Hopefully we will send the diplomats soon. To quote Hiram W Johnson: "The first casualty of War is Truth". It was true in 1918, it is still true today. I've never liked MAZ. Just like I don't like any other pay driver. It's not that they are rich. Nobody can choose his parents after all. Nor is it that their parents are rich. It's just that they are usually pretty bad. If at least they were good and it was deserved, I would have no problem with that. But I can't recall anyone who has perform well so far. Maybe STR in his first seasons, but still.
Even though we are the on the wrong forum for this discussion I have to say I completely agree with you War is always about money and power, and as always its the average Joe who gets hurt or killed Case in point a rich and powerful man' s son avoids military service while "training" in Italy well another rich and powerful man's son avoided the jungles of Vietnam by joining the Air National Guard On a positive note armies around the world are having trouble with recruitment as people have wised up and refuse to be cannon fodder for oil companies or any other reason other than the defence of their homeland
Being from a country rife with civil war, generally noone cares until it affects them. When UA citizens were killing each other it was contained. When Russia got directly involved it affected the world.
Well, corruption is something that is impossible to quantify. Lobbying is technically corruption, but leagal. Everywhere I look, I see plutocracy. I also don't think that the war in UA is worse than Vietnam, Iraq and many others conflicts which the west has provoked. What changes is how the media reports about. Unfortunately nobody cared when UA citizens bombed UA citizens from 2014 on with the support of the west. It's a shame because it is one of the important causes in the mess in which UA is right now. To quote Henry Kissinger: "America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests" Today I would say that this is not only the case of the US, but also for most countries. There's lots of interests in UA for both, Russia and western countries. And I'm not talking about peace ?
"A Russian missile strike on a grocery store and café in Ukraine's east killed at least 49 people on Thursday". They happened today. You think those people deserved death because of a stupid war Putin decided to start? They weren't responsible either. Meanwhile Mazepin is living care free, he deserves everyday he is banned from racing
I live in the most bombed country in the world, a country that was not in a war with the United States and where still people die every year from unexploded ordinance that the same United States dumped here. Meanwhile Logant Sergeant is living care free and apparently deserves to drive F1. You're argument really doesn't make any sense. It's a bit saddening really.
I'm sorry to hear what is still happening in your country ☹️ I totally agree with your comment. Different measures for same or similar actions. The best words I can imagine to wish you luck and peace is to quote a french song from Sinsemilia: "I wish you all the happiness in the world. And that someone reach out to you. May your path avoid bombs, That it leads to calm gardens. I wish you all the happiness in the world. For today, as for tomorrow. May your sun lighten the shadows, May it shine with love every day."☮️
The most important question is, which team would like to hire him? He has proven to be a horrible driver. Many of us would like to be a F1 driver. But at some point, one has to be pragmatic enough to understand that some talent is needed to deserve a spot in motorsport. Justice/injustice is one thing. Talent and drive skills is a totally different one. Since he cares about justice, he should be aware of that taking away a F1 seat with daddy's money is injustice to someone who has the talent and the skills. Same goes for our friend STR.
He can race outside of F1. Especially with money and depending on the series he can be competitive as well.
He can be competitive outside of F1, who knows. But looking at his results prior to F1, I'm pretty sure there's way better drivers out there.
Which team would hire him ? I guess it depends on which teams needs lots of money and with the repair bill that comes from his driving it would have to be LOTS of money. I agree Stroll and now Logan would like to see him driving in F1 as it would take some of the heat off of them
Perhaps for good US - Russian relationship, Andretti Global might sign him up to be one of their drivers if they ever make it onto F1! ?
Why not ? But I think Haas tried it already back in 2021. Media got all over the livery that according to the them was representing the Russian flag, it was before the invasion in UA and technically speaking, wasn't wrong, anyway. If my memory serves me well, someone from Haas (Günter or perhaps Gene himself?) stated that blue, red and white are American colors, which technically speaking, isn't wrong either. I found it funny because the whole thing went all the way down to three damn colours ? My advice to Andretti would then be, avoid blue, red and white in combination on your car ?
Good day J41L. I am responding on this old thread to not stir up the pot. Tony Montana is banned. Tony Montana aka the also banned IcyChain is the one who harassed Brett and others and made them want to avoid this blog. She is also known as Cristi Tab and maybe Yennifer of blah blah among others. Anyways we got into it as you noticed and she went off.
Hey Fangio, good move with the old thread ? Thanks for the info, I see clear now ?
She has many names, laughs at the mods and loves to provoke. I try to avoid her hence this old thread. If need be there will be another fight but I prefer to avoid them. Keep it in mind she knows who you are. Other than that have a great day.
Ah I see now. No worries, I'll get along with them ? But thanks for the advice ?
I mean you have had comments back and forth with her in the past and you are an active poster on this blog. She also pays attention to Ardrie, JEM etc. Nothing ominous just be aware when you get an offside comment , not paranoid just aware
"Keep it in mind she knows who you are." What you mean with that?
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