Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin won't give up Russian flag to return to grid

Nikita Mazepin has said that he will not race under a neutral flag in order to return to Formula 1 in the future.

The Russian was set to drive for Haas again this season after his debut campaign in 2021 but was prevented from turning a competitive wheel after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Indeed, that was just one example of many where sport turned its back on the country, with things like the Champions League final also taken away from the country earlier this year.

We also saw the Russian Grand Prix cancelled for this year and indefinitely for seasons to come, whilst Haas and Uralkali, the team’s then-title sponsor and also a company overseen by Mazepin’s father, Dmitry Mazepin, saw their relationship come to an end.

That said, then, there’s little Russian involvement in F1 as things stand, though we will see Robert Shwartzman drive for Ferrari in two FP1 sessions later this year, with him now using the Israeli flag rather than the Russian which he has in the past, with him having dual nationality.

Mazepin does not have such an option but would not even consider it if he did, nor would he use a neutral flag, even if that meant he might have a chance of returning to F1 – though nothing in that regard has been suggested anyway.

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“People cannot be condemned,” Mazepin said rsport.ria.ru.

“We are athletes and everyone has their own choices, which must be respected.

“[Konstantin] Zhiltsov is not the only one, 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.”

It appears as though a return to F1 for Mazepin isn’t