Haas F1 team & Mazepin in doubt over Ukraine crisis
Feb.28 - The effects of Russia's military actions in Ukraine have well and truly infiltrated the Formula 1 paddock.
F1's authorities have cancelled September's Russian GP at Sochi, and now the fate of the Haas team, its title sponsor Uralkali and driver Nikita Mazepin are all in the balance.
Formula 1 confirmed that it met with stakeholders late last week to discuss the situation and the conclusion is that it is "impossible to hold the Russian GP in the current circumstances".
One issue is that so many drivers came out suggesting they would not travel to Russia while the country was at war.
"We all would have stood together in that," confirmed George Russell, a new GPDA director.
However, Sochi race promoter Rosgonki thinks there is still hope.
"According to the official statement, the FIA decided to suspend preparations for the race in Russia due to current circumstances," a spokesman said.
Tickets will therefore not need to be refunded until the race is officially cancelled, Rosgonki added.
Also hanging in the balance is US-based Haas' preparations for 2022, as Uralkali - headed by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin - has already been removed from the new car's livery.
If Uralkali cannot return, Mazepin's 22-year-old son Nikita is likely to depart the cockpit.
"It needs to be resolved," team boss Gunther Steiner said.
"There are governments involved and I have no power over them and we need to see how the situation develops in Ukraine," he added.
"Nikita is looking sad at the moment because this is his native country. I hope he doesn't let his head drop."
Steiner said that if Mazepin is either removed from the lineup or barred from racing, at the front of the queue to replace him is reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi.
"We needed a reserve driver with covid around, so he is still around," he said.
Steiner insists, however, that Haas' very survival is not on the line.
"It is a headache but it's not something that disturbs the team," he said. "Financially we are ok. There are more ways to get the funding.
"We will have to sort out all of the legal issues next week. Everything will be decided then," Steiner added.
"You saw that we removed the logos and now we have to decide how this all goes on - with the sponsor and also with Nikita."
It is not the first major turmoil for Haas in recent seasons, but Steiner says he has to take it all in his stride.
"When we signed the agreement, who would have known that there would be a war in a year?" he said. "For me, these are the challenges you meet in life.
"Everything was fine until it happened, but sometimes in life you need to make decisions, even if they are not easy."
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Going back on the cancellation isn't really an option anymore & even if such a thing would get done, drivers & teams would ultimately prevent the event from happening by simply boycotting.
irrelevant what teams and drivers want, the FIA have cancelled it
"We needed a reserve driver with covid around, so he is still around," he said.
Now, there's a vote of confidence for young Fitti. Sheesh.
Mazespin will be off soon , hes in the Russian military isnt he?
Not to my knowledge, although he once mentioned possibly going in the military, albeit being an F1 driver makes this nearly impossible, but perhaps if he ends up without a drive.
Jere, conscription is mandatory in Russia. He is currently serving his term with special dispensations.
When they say special dispensations, what Ror really means is a bribe to get out of things like wars/invasions
Please lord do not let ihm drive a tank.
If he was to drive a tank he would more than likely be at the back. More humour RoR.
Oh J Clarkson, you do make me smile-- That led Clarkson commenting on his words, albeit through insult.
He tweeted: “Nikita Mazepin. You ******* ******. Go and race in Russia on your own. You’d still lose.”
This doesnt sound promising for NM, my guess is theyll ban all Russians, from Motorsport Events sanctioned by the FIA
Nikita Mazepin’s place on the F1 grid, and that of all Russian drivers competing in FIA sanctioned series, will be discussed in an emergency meeting called for Tuesday.
The sporting world is taking a stand following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Football’s Champions League final has been moved from Saint Petersburg to Paris, while the country has also been stripped of international badminton, swimming and karate events.
A meeting has been called for Tuesday, one that could decide Mazepin’s place on the 2022 grid.
“An extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will be convened tomorrow [Tuesday] to discuss matters relating to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine,” a spokesperson for the FIA told PA news agency.
Which would be in a perverse way, ironic that the president of fia whose country is run by a dictator, is punishing another country run by a dictator.
Prob doesn't matter, Shrop', daddy's money goes, he goes.