Mazepin was going to sign the FIA letter to race under a neutral flag
The Russian driver, Nikita Mazepin, who lost his seat mainly due to the conflict in Ukraine, announced that he was ready to sign the letter imposed by the FIA to race under a neutral flag.
In an interview with ESPN, Nikita Mazepin explained that he agreed to race for Haas in Formula 1 under a neutral banner, as requested by the FIA.
« I had planned to compete under the neutral banner. This would have been allowed by the FIA, and I would have been happy to have an agreement like that.
»
However, the night before my contract ended, I received a new letter with several clauses and additional options, and by the time we analyzed this letter, I received the termination of my contract the next morning.
The FIA did indeed communicate about a first draft of clauses to be accepted by the driver. The details of this letter had been published on Motors Inside. But indeed, a few hours later, some more detailed points came to further complicate the actions of Russian drivers and anyone of Russian nationality.
The Russian doesn’t hide his disappointment in front of this unprecedented situation in Formula 1: « So I didn’t even have the time to respond to this second letter, I was fired anyway. »
The first season of Mazepin in F1 has not really been an easy journey. Often making mistakes during practice sessions or races, Haas used Mazepin as a funding lever. Once the war in Ukraine broke out, the American team no longer had many reasons to keep their driver.
Nikita Mazepin has been replaced by Kevin Magnussen for this 2022 season, former Haas team driver. Pietro Fittipaldi remains the third driver and will race in case one of the two regular drivers is unable to.
