Nikita Mazepin said that Haas failed to fulfill "contractual obligations" after the termination in March. "I didn't see my money," the Russian driver declared
Nikita Mazepin left Haas earlier this year because of the sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the war against Ukraine, but the driver is far from ending the link that still has with the American team. This is because, according to the Russian driver, the team led by Günther Steiner still owes him a salary.
In an interview with Russian media group RBC, Mazepin said that he has filed a lawsuit against his former Formula 1 team, alleging that he has not received payments yet for this year. The driver had his contract terminated by Haas in March.
"When the contract was terminated, Haas still had a salary due from 2022. And they still haven't paid," Mazepin stressed. "I am only talking about the fact that the contractual obligations have not been fulfilled," he stressed, stating that the current lawsuit in nothing to do with that of Uralkali, who is seeking reimbursement of the funds invested in the Americans.
"You have to understand that we had two independent contracts. And breaking the agreement with the title sponsor [Uralkali] had no direct impact on my future with the team. They [Haas] made two separate decisions. I haven't seen my money, so let's go to court," he stressed.
Mazepin further used the example of what happened in F1 itself. By choosing to cancel the Russian GP, the category met all costs related to the decision - which, in the Russian's opinion, "was an example of etiquette."
"There are business relationships, and you can't ignore that, that's wrong. Unfortunately, not everyone is guided by that," he concluded.