Nikita Mazepin has revealed he will refuse to give up the Russian flag, as the driver eyes a potential return to Formula 1. Mazepin was dropped by Haas ahead of the 2022 campaign following his nation’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February.
As a result, the driver’s family is said to have close links with the Russian establishment, with his father Dmitry a close ally of president Vladimir Putin. In order to compete, Russian nationals have been told they must distance themselves from their nation and drop their flag by the FIA.
Drivers such as junior Ferrari man Robert Shwartzman and Dakar Rally driver Konstantin Zhiltsov have abdicated by the rules, but Mazepin continues to refuse. Speaking to rsport.ria.ru, he said: “People cannot be condemned. We are athletes and everyone has their own choices, which must be respected.
“Zhiltsov is not the only one, [Russian turned Israeli driver] Robert Shwartzman did the same. There is a question of personal considerations. Whether you want to give up your country for sport and it is more important for you or not – everyone chooses for himself, but I will not do it.”
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