Formula One team Haas on Saturday announced they have dropped Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and terminated his contract with title sponsor Uralkali due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Haas F1 team has elected to terminate with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver contract of Nikita Mazepin," the team said in a statement on their website.
Uralkali, a group specializing in potash, has Mazepin's father, Dmitry Mazepin, as its non-executive director.
Mazepin said he had been prepared to abide by the governing body FIA's ruling last Tuesday that Russian drivers would have to compete under the FIA flag and in a "neutral capacity."
"I am very disappointed to hear that my F1 contract has been terminated," he wrote on Instagram.
"While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from the FIA plus my ongoing willingness to accept the conditions proposed in order to continue were completely ignored and no process was involved in this unilateral step.
"I will have more to say in the coming days."
"As with the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict," the U.S. team said in a statement.
Mazepin, 23, finished his debut season in 21st place. It is still unclear who will replace him for 2022. The 23-year-old did not score a point in his debut F1 season last year alongside Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
F1 on Thursday canceled its contract with the Russian Grand Prix running until 2025 to show its support for Ukraine. The Black Sea resort of Sochi has hosted the race since the first running in 2014, but Saint Petersburg was due to replace it as the venue in 2023.
Last week, Haas removed Uralkali sponsorship and ran plain white cars on the final day of preseason testing in Barcelona, instead of the typically red, white and blue with a livery that resembles the Russian flag.
Preseason testing continues in Bahrain next week before the season-opening race there on March 20.
