Days after Formula 1 allowed Russian and Belarusian drivers to continue under neutral flags, the Haas team terminated the contract of their only Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin.
F1: Haas terminates contract of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Haas F1 said on Saturday it had terminated Mazepin’s contract
- Mazepin is the only Russian driver on the F1 grid
- The 22-year-old drove under a neutral flag because of the doping sanctions imposed on Russia
The Haas Formula One team confirmed on Saturday that it had canceled the contract of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, the only driver from the country, following the invasion of Ukraine. It also ended the deal with Russian potash producer Uralkali, owned by Mazepin’s father.
F1 has already canceled this year’s race, which was due to take place in Sochi on September 25. However, after further talks this week, F1 went a step further and ended a deal that ran until 2025.
Previously, F1 said the Russian and Belarusian drivers will be able to compete but under a natural flag. The 22-year-old, the only Russian driver on the F1 grid, was driving under a neutral flag due to doping sanctions imposed on Russia.
“Formula 1 can confirm that it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix,” F1 said in a statement. “Russia will not have a race in the future.”
TEAM STATEMENT #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/5aEXLzYtmV
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 5, 2022
Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and several other drivers said last week they would not have raced in Russia even if F1 had decided to go there.
