INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin has lost the latest round of his High Court battle after being subjected to sanctions following
the invasion of Ukraine.Mazepin used to race for Haas, but the F1 team "terminated its relationship" with him soon after Russia started the
war in Ukraine last year.The 24-year-old has not driven for a F1 team since then and has taken legal action against British Foreign
Secretary James Cleverly in a bid to get the sanctions lifted.A judge is due to oversee a trial on July 19, but Mazepin's lawyers asked a
High Court hearing in London to suspend sanctions in the interim.That would have allowed Mazepin to travel to Britain and begin negotiations
with Formula 1 teams based in the UK as soon as possible.However, the judge dismissed the application by Mazepin's legal team on
Thursday.Judges have heard that Mazepin and his father Dmitry, a Russian businessman who owns chemical products manufacturer Uralchem, were
made subject to sanctions in March 2022.Mazepin and his father are "subject to an asset freeze and travel ban".Lawyers representing the
Government said sanctions were a "key aspect" of Britain's attempts to "address the situation" in Ukraine.They raised concern about what
the public perception would be if Mazepin's application was granted."The claimant is a relatively prominent public figure and a racing
driver," the judge said."I accept that the perception may arise, at least in some sections of the public, that there are always ways around
the UK sanctions regime."The judge said he was "quite satisfied" that the balance of evidence weighed against granting interim
was dropped by Haas shortly before the start of the 2022 season.F1 also dropped the Sochi Grand Prix from its 2022 schedule and canceled
plans for annual races to be held in St Petersburg.
