The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Formula One’s governing body, has been called by the Motor Racing Federation of Ukraine to ban all Russian and Belarusian drivers amid the war against Ukraine.
The request casts doubt on Russian Nikita Mazepin’s driving for Haas in F1.
Earlier on Friday, the Haas Formula One team said they have not yet decided whether Nikita Mazepin will race this year.
On Friday, F1 canceled a race in Russia scheduled for 25 September, saying it was “impossible” to race there given the situation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Haas withdrew its sponsorship from Russian company Uralkali late Thursday and is driving plain white cars on the final day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona. Haas not only receives significant money from Uralkali but also designs a car for Mazepin.
Mazepin’s future and the decision to continue with Uralkali as a sponsor will be addressed next week.
Mazepin tweeted on Friday: “To my fans and followers – this is a difficult time and I can’t control what is said and done. I am doing my best by working hard and doing my best for my @HaasF1Team I am choosing to focus on what I can control. My heartfelt thanks for your understanding and support.”
Team principal Guenther Steiner said the 22-year-old driver, who did not attend media duty on Thursday and Friday, has no guarantees.
“There are no guarantees anywhere. Governments are (involved) and I don’t know what’s going on from that side,” Steiner said. “He keeps a tough face on it. Certainly it bothers them as it is their own country.”
Steiner said the situation was very complex.
“It needs to be resolved. Not everything is up to us,” Steiner said, “we need to see how the situation develops in Ukraine … there are legal issues that we have to go through and then we see.” That’s what’s happening.”
Steiner said that Haas’ US team owner Gene Haas “stands behind the decision” to remove the Uralkali sponsorship on the cars. They are usually red, white and blue in color similar to the Russian flag.
Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday he would not race in Russia, and defending champion Max Verstappen agreed with him, but declined to say he would skip the event.
Drivers widely welcomed the decision on Friday, with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris saying they do not race in Russia even though F1 has decided to go there.
“When I saw what Apple said yesterday, I fully supported it and found it to be the right move and something that I would have passed on to (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali). Because we have a say too,” Gasly said. . “I am personally affected by some of my close people who are in Ukraine. This is a very difficult situation and very scary.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to other punitive measures in the sporting world, with UEFA separating St Petersburg, which hosted the Champions League final on 28 May, and replacing it with the Stade de France outside Paris.
(with inputs from agencies)
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