Last week, the Haas F1 team terminated Mazepin’s contract and the contract of their title sponsor Uralkali, a Russian chemical manufacturer partly owned by Dmitry’s company Uralchem.
The EU document describes Mazepin Sr. as “a member of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle” as the Russian president invited him to a meeting with 36 other businessmen to discuss how the sanctions would affect Russia.
“According to the company [Uralchem]it is the largest producer of ammonium nitrate, as well as the second largest producer of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers in Russia,” the EU document says.
“Thus, Dmitry Arkadyevich Mazepin is involved in sectors of the economy that provide a significant source of income for the government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine.”
Mazepin Jr. secured his place at Haas for the 2021 F1 season thanks to the team’s sponsorship from Uralkali and said in a social media statement that he was “very disappointed” with the decision to terminate his contract.
The EU document describes Dmitry as “the main sponsor of his son’s activities in the Haas F1 Team”.
In a statement released Wednesday, Uralkali described Haas’ decision to terminate the contract as “unreasonable” and said it would seek damages and reimbursement of what it paid the team for the upcoming 2022 season.
“Because most of the sponsorship funding for the 2022 season has already been transferred to Haas, and given that the team terminated the sponsorship agreement ahead of the first race of the 2022 season, Haas has thus defaulted on its obligations to Uralkali this year. “, the statement says.
Uralkali will require an immediate refund of the amounts received by Haas. The return from Haas and the remainder of Uralkali’s sponsorship funding for 2022 will be used to create the We Compete as One athlete support fund.
The We Compete As One Foundation was created by Mazepin after he was fired from Haas and aims to help other Russian athletes who have been suspended from the sport, starting with Russian Paralympic athletes sent home from the Beijing Games.