The European Union’s General Court on Wednesday handed a win to Russian former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin, overturning EU sanctions imposed against him as part of the bloc’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine. The measures have targeted the energy sector, banks, the world’s biggest diamond mining company, businesses and markets, and made Russian officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

Among the individuals targeted are Nikita and his father Dmitry, the owner and chief executive of the mineral fertilizer company Uralchem.

The EU said it had added Nikita, 25, 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.

The European Union had described Dmitry as “a member of the closest circle” of Putin.

Nikita claimed the EU made an error of assessment when he was sanctioned. The court ruled in his favour, saying in a statement, “the family connection with his father, Russian businessperson Dmitry Mazepin, is not sufficient for him to be regarded as being linked to his father by common interests and, therefore, for him to be maintained on those lists.”

The court said the “association” criterion used in the EU sanctions regime requires the existence of a link going beyond a simple family relationship.

In Wednesday’s ruling, the court also said Nikita had stopped being a driver for the Haas F1 racing team, meaning the EU was wrong to keep the athlete on its sanctions list.

“I am hugely encouraged by today’s ruling and grateful to the European Court for a fair trial of my case,” Nikita said in a statement. “This is certainly a crucial milestone.”

He is also challenging EU and Canadian sanctions as part of his attempt to return to Formula One.

Nikita’s contract with Formula One team Haas was terminated by the American-owned team following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mazepin said he was shocked at losing his Formula One ride and that he would create a foundation to help athletes excluded from competition as a result of Russia’s war.

At the time, Haas F1 also terminated its contract with sponsor Uralkali.

After the war started, motorsport’s governing body FIA banned Russia from all international events but allowed individual drivers as neutrals without their national symbols, flags, colours and anthems.

Last month, diplomatic sources told Reuters the EU was preparing to lift sanctions on Mazepin, saying Hungary had been lobbying on the driver’s behalf.

AP/PTI