Formula 1

F1 News: Nikita Mazepin Will Not Race At The British Grand Prix

Russian F1 driver, Nikita Mazepin, has been banned from the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. 

It was looking as though Mazepin was going to be allowed to take part last Tuesday, just under a neutral flag. However, David Richards CBE who is the chair of Motorsport UK, confirmed along with the board what their position was on this. 

 

Motorsport UK has made the decision, along with advice from the UK Government, to ban all Russian/Belarusian licensed teams from all motorsport competitions in the UK. This also includes officials and Russian/Belarusian national flags, colours or symbols, unless the situation changes. 

Their statement was as follows:

“We stand united with the people of Ukraine and the motorsport community following the invasion and the unacceptable actions that have unfolded. This is a time for the international motorsport community to act and show support for the people of Ukraine and our colleagues at the Federation Automobile d’Ukraine (FAU).”

FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem, explained on Tuesday: 

 “The FIA is watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and I hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation. We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those suffering as a result of the events in Ukraine.”

The FIA went on to say:

“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.”

Motorsport UK confirmed that whilst “respecting the decisions of the FIA”, but they have decided “that 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, and no Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (on uniform, equipment and car) to be displayed at Motorsport UK permitted events.”

Richards explained:

“It is our duty to use whatever influence and leverage we might have to bring this wholly unjustified invasion of Ukraine to a halt. We would encourage the motorsport community and our colleagues around the world to fully embrace the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and do whatever we can to end this war.”

“Motorsport UK stands united with Leonid Kostyuchenko, the President of the FAU, the Ukrainian motorsport community and the Ukrainian people and calls for the violence to end with a peaceful resolution.”

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