MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Haas Formula 1 team has terminated this Saturday the contract of the Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and that of his main sponsor, Uralkali, owned by the athlete’s father, due to the ties that unite the family with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, maximum responsible for his country’s offensive in Ukraine.
“The Haas F1 Team has decided to terminate, effective immediately, Uralkali’s title sponsorship and driver Nikita Mazepin’s contract. Like the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wants a quick and peaceful end to the conflict,” he said in a terse statement.
Nikita Mazepin’s father, Russian-Belarusian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, is a personal friend of President Vladimir Putin and a major backer of Haas through his company, Uralkali.
Last Tuesday, the FIA announced that it would allow Russian Formula 1 World Championship drivers to compete under a neutral flag, just a couple of days before the ‘Grand Circus’ terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix. Thus, in addition to Mazepin, his compatriots Daniil Kvyat, former AlphaTauri driver and current reserve driver for BWT Alpine, and Robert Shwartzman, test driver for the Ferrari team, could continue to participate.
Later, on Friday, the FIA confirmed that all Russian and Belarusian riders would have to sign a special declaration of commitment, made up of ten points, in order to participate in any event.
Among other decisions, the drivers will have to acknowledge the FIA’s commitment to show solidarity with “all those who suffer as a result of the conflict”, accept to participate as neutrals, not display “any symbol, color or national flag of Russia or Belarus publicly or through social networks” or not to express “any support (direct or indirect) for Russian and/or Belarusian activities regarding Ukraine”.