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Haas F1 Team announced Saturday that they have terminated the contract of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and sponsor Uralkali following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leaving Mazepin without a ride for the 2022 Formula 1 season. Mazepin, a 23-year-old driver from Moscow, had competed full-time for the team in 2021.

Mazepin had brought sponsorship from Russian fertilizer company Uralkali, which is co-owned by his father Dimitry Mazepin through his company Uralchem. The elder Mazepin is a prominent business figure in Russia, and was among several of the nation's business leaders who met with president Vladimir Putin to discuss western sanctions placed on the country following their invasion of Ukraine, according to ESPN.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Haas F1 Team had removed their car's Russian flag branding from their car for the final day of preseason testing in Barcelona. Now, Haas F1 has taken the action of removing Mazepin and Uralkali from their team altogether.

Mazepin was set to remain in F1 this season, before he was fired from his team. According to Laurence Edmondson of ESPN, the FIA had announced this week that Russian and Belarusian drivers would be permitted to race in FIA-sanctioned international motorsports provided that they race under a neutral flag and agree not to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from 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," read a statement by Mazepin. "To those who have tried to understand, my eternal thanks.

"I have treasured my time in F1 and genuinely hope we can all be together again in better times. I will have more to say in the coming days."

Mazepin's first season in F1 had not been a remarkable one, as he finished no better than 14th at Baku and failed to finish five races en route to a 21st-place finish in the final world championship standings.