Haas’ Russian driver Nikita Mazepin could be forced to forego the use of his flag by the world anti-doping agency’s decision to ban Russia from competing internationally. Alexey Popov has spoken about this after Nikolay Gryazin, a Russian rally driver, had to compete in Monte Carlo as a neutral athlete. Popov comments that there could be an intermediate solution, that the Kannapolis team driver could participate in F1 carrying the flag of the Russian Automobile Federation. Alexey believes that the flag of each driver’s country of origin is everywhere during the GP. As for the anthem, well, at this point the situation becomes somewhat comical since after the torment of the 2020 season and the negative words of Steiner no one expects a Haas on the podium and even less winning a race, neither wait Popov. There are those who begin to rumor that the name of the Russian Grand Prix could be forced to change, the Krasnodar or Sochi GP sound like alternatives.
Nikita might have to run without the Russian flag
“There is a solution, in many sports they now compete under the flag of the national federation, in this case, it would be the Russian Automobile Federation. As for the anthem, we will see, but you’d have to be a huge optimist to imagine him winning at Haas the first year. But the flag is everywhere, on the circuit, in the garages, on the overalls. It wouldn’t be very nice to be deprived of being able to carry your flag. “
The Russian GP might also have to change its name
“The main factor here is that it is commercial, the contract was signed long before this story, so there is no right to modify it now. “
