Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has begun High Court action against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to get British sanctions against him lifted. Mazepin and his father Dmitry were sanctioned by the UK, Canada and European Union in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mazepin was also sacked by Formula 1 team Haas as a result of the invasion. Mazepin and his father are subject to an assets freeze and travel ban as part of the sanctions, though lawyers representing the Foreign Office argued that Mazepin could still negotiate with Formula One teams with the sanctions in place. Mazepin is also challenging EU and Canadian sanctions as part of his attempt to return to Formula One. In September 2022, Mazepin had requested “revocation of his designation” – a lifting of the sanctions – but UK government ministers had decided to “take no action”.

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