Haas decline to comment following official FIA WMSC verdict on fate of Russian and Belarusian drivers


Haas decline to comment following official FIA WMSC verdict on fate of Russian and Belarusian drivers

Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher

The American-based Haas Formula1 team has got a lifeline as the WMSC and the FIA have decided to allow Russian drivers to participate in the various categories of motorsports, and as an after-effect, Nikita Mazepin the Haas team driver will be allowed to drive during the 2022 season of Formula1.

Jenson button the former Formula1 driver and now a sky sports pundit has just a few hours ago via his Twitter handle has stated that the Haas Formula1 team is not ready to comment on WMSC’s decision just yet.

The decision has come after the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for an urgent meeting of the World Motorsport Council on 1st March. As per FIA’s official statement, the Russian drivers will be allowed to race, however, they would not be allowed to represent the Russian Flag during any of the racing events and would have to participate in their neutral capacity.

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Team Haas feeling relieved?

Nikita Mazepin
Nikita Mazepin

Ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there were rumors circulating whether Nikita Mazepin would be allowed to race during the 2022 season given he is of Russian origin. The rumors picked even more pace when during the first pre-season testing the Haas F1 team decided to run a plain livery without the name of their main sponsor URAI KALI[Russian].

Hass
Hass

However, now with FIA’s official statement, all the doubts regarding Mazepin’s availability for the 2022 season have been put to rest. He will be allowed to race.

As the dust has now settled it is going to be interesting to hear what Nikita Mazepin has got to say regarding the decision and how much he is now looking forward to yet another season in Formula1.

Guenther Steiner
Guenther Steiner

Last year the Haas Formula1 team was lingering at the bottom of the team’s table and given that the 2022 season is going to mark the beginning of a new era, Nikita and the Haas Formula1 team would be looking for a step up from the previous season.

Haas' Russian driver Nikita Mazepin
Haas’ Russian driver Nikita Mazepin

Moreover, Nikita has had a tough last few weeks mentally, so for him, during the 2022 season, it would be about doing the best he can with the provided car. The mental pressure is immense in Formula1 and it is going to be interesting to see how well Nikita is able to handle the pressure during the 2022 season.

Also Read: “It’s just energized everyone in the team,” Christian Horner on the significance of Max Verstappen’s RB18