Mar.5 - A prominent Russian politician has welcomed the controversial new Haas livery, declaring that "common sense triumphs over anti-Russian hysteria".

The company of Russian team rookie Nikita Mazepin's father Dmitry Mazepin - Uralkali - was on Thursday unveiled as the American team's new title sponsor.

And despite the fact that the world anti-doping agency has banned the Russian flag and anthem from all international sport, there is nothing stopping a sports team from choosing its colours.

"Flag shock!" read the headline at the German newspaper Bild. "Mick (Schumacher) drives for Putin."

Dmitry Svishchev, deputy of the Russian parliament Duma, told Sport-Express that Russian colours are not banned.

"If it is not prohibited, then it is allowed. Automotive sports live on sponsorship and marketing contracts, and I think the organisers of this series are interested in the race continuing to take place in Russia as well," he said.

"Common sense triumphs over anti-Russian hysteria."

Haas boss Gunther Steiner also defended the decision to race in Russian colours, insisting: "We have to sell sponsor space in order to move forward.

"It has nothing to do with nationality."

An FIA spokesperson told Bild newspaper: "The (WADA) decision does not prohibit the use of Russian colours."

It has been a tumultuous winter for Haas, with Mazepin already the subject of a vicious and ongoing social media tirade following the emergence of an alleged groping video.

"I don't know whether this affair will ever vanish, but hopefully the topic will speak itself to death at some point," said Steiner.

As for Mick Schumacher, he says he doesn't mind racing a car in Russian colours.

"I only see the team colours but if these are the colours, I'm happy with them," said the German. "I would also drive it if it was pink. As long as it's fast and I drive it well, I don't mind."


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32 F1 Fan comments on “FIA says Haas' new Russian car livery is legal

  1. Adrian Roscher

    As an American, given the past 5 years of Russian attacks on our democracy and co-opting of our former president, I find this color scheme, on the only US team in F1, absolutely disgusting. Mazepin is one of Putin's mafia thug criminals and his son clearly takes after the father. I will never support Haas again.

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          • Adrian Roscher

            Except the new title sponsor isn't a UK, French or US company is it? No, it's right there on the airbox, "URALKALI" - part of the Putin mafia family thugocracy nominally owned by Mazepin Sr., and the absolute ONLY reason Mazepin Jr. got anywhere in single-seat racing, much less an F1 ride. Also, not for nuthin' but that color order just behind the URALKALI logo is "red, blue and white", in THAT ORDER, which is NOT the UK flag, NOT the French flag, NOT the US flag, but is, wait for it, the Russian flag. The car # is surrounded by a giant fucking Russian flag - on the ONLY "American team." DISGRACEFUL!

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  2. Teresa Bailey

    Who can support a back marker who would rather show a Russian flag than promote American ownership? Mazepin is a stooge and HAAS sells out. I can’t support them again either. They also pulled support from Grosjean in Indycar after leading him on. They stink

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  3. Zach D Stone

    Just like the BS about the video of Nikita and his friends, this is much ado about nothing. Doping in other athletic venues has nothing to do with F1. Haas has Russian sponsorship money and a young Russian driver. What do people expect? Gene Haas has made the decision to be a total cheapskate with his F1 team. This is exactly what many of us expected to see, at least until Dmitry Mazepin just buys the team outright. Which may be better for the team.

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    • shroppyfly

      if GS could have found a young american driver who was up for F1 im sure hed have taken him , then mayb american firms might have thrown money at Haas, facts are , there wasnt any............., so your solution to his problem would have been what?..... easy to criticize when your an average Joe, who doesnt even understand how a world doping ban for ATHLETES works......................thumbs up , thumbs down , i couldnt care less

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  4. SPIKER

    Very conflicted about supporting Haas. This is an expensive sport that relys on massive sponsership, however; selling out to be a back-maker, just disappointing, Guther your ego is driving this team in the wrong direction. Note to Gene: go big or go home ....you have the money, you've had the sucess in other racing platforms...reapply yourshelf.

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  5. shroppyfly

    Americans you crack me up , dont blame Haas or Russia , its the companies in the USA that need , to feel your anger not supporting a fellow American firm on the world stage , shame on THEM, if we are gonna play the shame game at all, which in my eyes is foolish , its a world sport , NOT an american sport........................

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  6. David Larison

    I still support Haas, the American Team and hope they can improve their standing in Formula 1. Colors are Colors, lets move on to Racing and leave politics behind.

  7. william Sucher

    I'm sure our very political F1 champion will have something to say about this. Perhaps he'll have the FIA cancel this American team.

  8. Richard E

    Does not matter what Haas does. They’ll be gone (as Haas) in a couple years. This is just Mazepin will have his name and colors eventually

  9. Johann Crafford

    I checked the launch pictures of the HAAS 2021 cars again and could not find any Russian flag on the car. The livery however is white, blue & red, same colors as on the American flag? :))

    • ReallyOldRacer

      Johann, before I was inundated with the political tripe I had the same reaction to the new livery. I'm more concerned that the team already said that they will not develop the 2021 car.

      • Adrian Roscher

        Funny how Haas didn't use the "American flag" red, white and blue" until they got millions from the murderous Russian thugocracy that owns title-sponsor URALKALI and sired the thuggish no-talent driver whose daddy bought him his ride. 2 of 20, 10% of current F1 drivers have their seat because their rich daddy bought it for them. Disgusting if you ask me.

        • shroppyfly

          2 of 20, 10% of current F1 drivers have their seat because their rich daddy bought it for them. Disgusting if you ask me.

          ITS always been that way even back to Sennas day, or do you think he came from a poor family, ?
          and im sure with a little reseach there will be many others whove used family money, Norris and Sainz spring to mind, thats just how F1 works,......

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          • Adrian Roscher

            Senna made it on his talent alone - I don't think he brought much if any budget to his first F1 rides, maybe a Brazilian sponsor or two. I'm not talking coming from families with money. Motorsports has always been expensive. I'm talking about billionaire daddies buying (or funding) an entire team simply so their brats can go F1 racing. Only two I'm aware of are Stroll and now Mazepin, who will likely be the two least talented drivers on the grid this season.

      • Johann Crafford

        I assume HAAS have not had the new sponsor confirmed in time to start development of the 2021 car. Hopefully they will do at least some upgrades during the year. Until two years ago they did actually fairly well and then "collapsed" during 2020, Ferrari had similar issues (engine?). Hopefully the Ferarri engine will be more competitive this year.

  10. shroppyfly

    back in the seventies williams used saudi money to win, and now mclaren use it, but no one slags them off, honestly some posters on here are shockingly either ignorant ,or just so miss informed on how F1 works and finances its teams

    • Adrian Roscher

      Williams used Saudi sponsorship $$ decades before the Saudis murdered almost 3000 Americans on 9/11; McLaren has substantial Arab investment for many years as well. How does that pertain to the issue of billionaires buying or funding an F1 team simply so their spawn can be F1 drivers?

      • shroppyfly

        Sorry i was trying to bring it back to the whole point of this discussion , Re certain countries with certain governments....Re saudi human rights etc etc . which is what the Actual post is about oh silly me...and as for Billionaires buying F1 teams, whats your issue , the teams are saved , the teams are well funded , the teams continue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!, i say thank you mr stroll, given your choice wed see venture capitalists running the teams ala Williams, , but we will not agree on this point and thats fine

        • Adrian Roscher

          Billionaires buying teams is one thing, and, as you rightly say, nothing new. What is new and which I find both disturbing and ultimately bad for the sport we all love, is billionaires buying or funding team for the sole or primary purpose of securing their spawn an F1 drive. Imagine that happening in any other sport... closest I can think is NASCAR, where Childress has one but not both his grandsons driving for him (both won races in Trucks and Xfinity and Austin in Cup too) and now Gibbs has a race winner in his grandson too. If/when Stroll or Mazepin actually win a race, maybe I'll change my mind - until then, their seats are suspect and will or should go down in F1 history with big asterisks indicating their daddies bought the rides.

          • Adrian Roscher

            - and of course perennial Indycar back-marker Marco Andretti, who would've been out of a ride years ago were it not for daddy.

          • shroppyfly

            As the owners of F1 are American, why not let them decide where and how f1 Is ran, you slate Russia , but regarding human rights and dodgy governments there are a few other countries
            March 28 – Bahrain (Sakhir)
            April 18 – Italy (Imola)
            May 9 – Spain (Barcelona)
            May 23 – Monaco (Monaco)
            June 6 – Azerbaijan (Baku)
            June 13 – Canada (Montreal)
            June 27 – France (Le Castellet)
            July 4 – Austria (Spielberg)
            July 18 – Great Britain (Silverstone)
            August 1 – Hungary (Budapest)
            August 29 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
            September 5 – Netherlands (Zandvoort)
            September 12 – Italy (Monza)
            September 26 – Russia (Sochi)
            October 3 – Singapore (Singapore)
            October 10 – Japan (Suzuka)
            October 24 – USA (Austin)
            October 31 – Mexico (Mexico City)
            November 7 – Brazil (Sao Paulo)
            November 21 – Australia (Melbourne)
            December 5 – Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
            December 12 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)

            And again you slate Russian companies but F1 owners are chasing the money just as Haas have, i refer to the massive aramco, now a big sponsor of F1 ......and yet you say nothing, fyi im no more a fan of saudi or russian money, but you as an American..., pot calling the kettle black, finally Haas are just doing what it takes to survive, wouldnt you do the same


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