Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin reportedly sacked by Haas team

Haas F1 team reportedly sacks its Russian driver Nikita Mazepin

Earlier this week, the motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, following the invasion of Ukraine, had announced that Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, who drives for the Haas team, would be allowed to race this season but under a neutral flag.

Motorsport UK then followed up by announcing that Russian and Belarussian drivers would be banned from competing in any events in Britain, including the British Grand Prix.

However, this evening, a report from Sky Deutschland has claimed that Mazepin has been sacked by the Haas tea. It is believed that his seat alongside Mick Schumacher will be taken by Brazilian-American driver, Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of the late Emerson Fittipaldi, according to thesun.co.uk.

Dmitry Mazepin, the Russian billionaire oligarch is a close friend of Vladimir Putin, and is the father of  Formula One driver, Nikita Mazepin. He owns Uralkali, the mining company that is the title sponsor of Haas.

An extraordinary meeting, led by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had been called yesterday, Wednesday 2. It was decided by the  World Motor Sport Council that any driver holding Russian and Belarussian racing licences could still race under an “FIA flag”.

As a result, Motorsport UK then issued a statement that read, “No Russian/Belarusian licenced teams are approved to enter motorsport competitions in the UK. No Russian/Belarusian licenced competitors and officials are approved to participate in UK motorsport events”.

Concluding, “No Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (on uniform, equipment and car) to be displayed at Motorsport UK permitted events. The Motorsport UK decision was made in full consultation with the UK Government and national sports governing bodies to ensure that there is a unilateral response to the crisis”.