FIA Give Nikita Mazepin the Green Light as He Continues 2022 F1 Season in ‘Neutral Capacity’

Russian driver Nikita Mazepin will compete under a neutral flag after the FIA confirmed the news on Tuesday. FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem offered a statement. As a result, Haas driver Mazepin will join the grid despite many calls to remove him from the lineup.

Earlier, the Russian Grand Prix scheduled to take place in September was removed from the list of venues following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has also resulted in numerous sanctions towards Russia, including FIFA and UEFA, barring the country from any participation.

Sulayem produced a lengthy statement confirming that Mazepin and other Russian/Belarusian drivers will now compete under a neutral flag.

“Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the ‘FIA flag’, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA’s principles of peace and political neutrality.”

Haas, meanwhile, sported a full-white livery on the final day of the pre-season test in Barcelona. This was due to the removal of all branding of sponsor Uralkali.

The company is partly owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, father of Nikita. Team principal Guenther Steiner has admitted that the team can financially handle the removal of the Russian company while calling the criticism of Mazepin ‘unfair.’ Moreover, the Ukraine Motorsport Federation has asked for a ban on Russian drivers competing in any other country barring their own.

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Will Nikita Mazepin face a torrid time in 2022?

Mazepin made his debut for the team last season, teaming up with Mick Schumacher in a new youthful pairing. However, things did not go as planned, as the team were unable to secure a single point. With the onset of a new era, there is added optimism for Haas going into 2022.

The Russian will be under added duress with the current political scenario. However, reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi is the replacement for the American team. With less than 20 days left for the season, Mazepin’s situation is highly unfortunate ahead of the Bahrain opener.

As the situation worsens, we hope for a quick solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Undoubtedly, Mazepin faces an important next few weeks in Formula 1. The Russian will be hoping to regroup as he begins his second season with Haas in 2022.