Marko backs Mazepin staying on F1 grid this season
Mar.2 - Dr Helmut Marko has backed the decision to allow Nikita Mazepin to keep racing in Formula 1.
At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the FIA bucked the current international trend by deciding to allow Russian drivers to keep racing.
"If Mazepin can stay in the team without the financial support of Uralkali, then in my opinion there is no need to exclude him because of his citizenship," Red Bull's Marko said.
"Medvedev has not been expelled from international tennis either," he told RTL. "The problem is Russian funding."
The FIA has banned Russian flags and colours, though, and the suspension of the Russian GP at Sochi has now become full "cancellation".
Russian sponsors have not been specifically banned, though, but Marko thinks wider societal clampdowns on Russian financing will suffice.
"With all the measures to restrict payment transactions, further financing will not be possible at all," said the Austrian. "I think that takes care of it on its own."
The permanent departure from Haas of title sponsor Uralkali is therefore likely, but team boss Gunther Steiner said when asked: "At this point I have no comment."
Auto Motor und Sport editor Michael Schmidt thinks Uralkali - headed by Mazepin's father Dmitry who is reportedly close to Vladimir Putin - will be safe for now "as part of the money has already flowed".
But Mazepin senior has sold his shares in the Formula 2 team Hitech, according to sources.
And Germany's Bild newspaper thinks 22-year-old Mazepin will have problems racing around the 23-strong grand prix calendar in 2022 "as he may have problems obtaining visas".
Ferrari, meanwhile, rejected claims that it may be set to lose a key Russian sponsor.
"Kaspersky is a global company," team boss Mattia Binotto insisted.
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Thank you Dr Marco. With Mazepin still in the team there is a stronger possibility to keep Haas in F1.
Here's a tidbit, fact not hype per the US guv.. Russia, i.e. Mr. Maz, produces 56% of the commercial fertilizer used in the world. That doesn't include bullshit and other natural sources. Good chance the Maz family has enough $$$ squirreled away to go racing.
Seems to me the big challenge will be visas into some of the countries on the calendar.
The other 44% bullshite being split between Totster,the Doc and Hamsterwheel.
:) Glad to see you're warming up for the kickoff.
BTW, did you see that VER is rumoured to be signing a quarter BILLION $$$ contract extension? Pretty soon these guys will be making real money.
Gonna need the extra monies if he,, M. Ver touches sir Lulu's rear wing again, which reminds me,, did sir Lulu get a fine or penalty for the sneaky, sneaky peeps he had of the red B in the garage. Nosy git.
We'll see.
I personally think having a Ruusian Oligarch in F1 to be a bit distasteful. There’s a enough BS in this sport without having Russian fertilizer spread all over it. Mazepin, by every measure, is a poor driver. Daddy’s money isn’t going to change that.
Well here's the thing, whatever Putin is or isn't , F1 as a whole decided he was nice enough to give us a race in Russia, regardless of his wars in Georgia, Crimea,Chechnya, oh and Ukraine, so Now suddenly F1 has woken up and DONE something, some might say errrr bit late F1
Fact-Europe as a continent buys 44% of its domestic and commercial Gas from Putin, so what are you going to do..!
Get the rest of we oil producers, i.e. Canada and Venezuela, to step up and sell at a reasonable price, and tell Mr. Putin to...well, you fill it in. True, we now have an international economy, but just as at the schoolyard we can play with our friends and shun the bullies. OK, back to motor racing.
Sky Germany reporting Haas have dropped NM.... but Haas yet to confirm it, will it be PF or Gio ?
You stay two steps ahead. Are you sure you're not the Director of M2? Anyway, if true bet on Fitti. And for god's sake, how did the US get stuck with white as an international racing color? Crikey, it's not even a color.
PF based on all indications & references.
reminds me of the JYS cars before Ford bought them out, , The only M2 im aware of is the BMW M2 , but enlighten me Ror M2?
Shame on me. I meant Meye2, the discontinued Russ/Scand intelligence section. Quick mind, slow fingers.....or vice versa.
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