Forgotten F1 star, 27, makes return to racing after FOUR-YEAR ban… and snatches pole by whopping four seconds

FORMER Formula 1 star Nikita Mazepin returned to racing this week after the FIA lifted its ban on Russian drivers. The 27-year-old was sacked by Haas in 2022 after being banned for FOUR YEARS amid Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Nikita Mazepin made his return to racing four years after being sacked by Haas Credit: Getty The Russian was banned for four years amid Russia’s conflict with Ukraine Credit: Reuters But Mazepin is now back in racing after the restrictions ended, allowing him to take part in a European event. He raced for Team Motopak in the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium this weekend. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Mazepin secured pole position by a whopping 4.160 seconds on board his Mercedes-AMG GT3. It was a dominant display as he easily outpaced Thomas Amweg, who came second in qualifying. He was joined by fellow ex-F1 star Christian Klien – who once drove for Red Bull – on the grid in a Lotus Emira GT4. Mazepin was able to return after the FIA eased their restrictions in August following a vote to revise its measures against Russian and Belarusian stars. The FIA did allow drivers to compete under a neutral banner, but strict EU sanctions made it almost impossible for him to join a new team. And Mazepin would not have entertained racing in such circumstances anyway. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Mazepin hit out at Haas after leaving the team on a sour note following the FIA’s ruling Credit: PA He said in 2022: “People cannot be condemned. We are athletes. “Everyone has their own choice, it must be respected. [Konstantin] Zhiltsov is not the only one, Robert Shwartzman did the same. “There is a question of personal considerations. country or not – everyone chooses for himself, but I will not do this.” Mazepin’s exit from Haas four years ago came amid a turbulent time that also saw his father’s company Uralkali removed as the team’s sponsor. And he hit out at Haas for “completely ignoring” the FIA’s ruling on Russian racers. He said: “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 followed in this unilateral step. His father, billionaire oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, has close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Comment now