F1 driver Nikita Mazepin overturns EU ban imposed after Russian invasion

• Former Haas driver sacked two years ago after being sanctioned
• Court rules association' with father not enough to merit ban

The former Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin has overturned European Union sanctions imposed against him as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU added the 25-year-old Russian to its sanctions list due to his association with his father, Dmitry, an influential businessman who it said was the main sponsor of his son's activities as a racing driver. It had described Dmitry Mazepin as a member of the closest circle" of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

But in Wednesday's ruling, the general court said Mazepin had stopped being a driver for Haas, meaning the EU was wrong to keep him on its sanctions list after he was sacked by the team in March 2022.