Mazepin to miss Silverstone GP as Motorsport UK bans Russian drivers from racing in Britain

 • The FIA announced on Tuesday Russian and Belarusian drivers could participate in motor sports as individuals. • This meant Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin would be able to race in the 2022 F1 season. • Now Motorsport UK has banned Russian and Belarusian drivers to race in Britain.

Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin will not be able to race in the British Grand Prix on his Russian license after Motorsport UK on Wednesday banned Russian and Belarusian license holders from racing amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The move by Britain's motor racing federation comes a day after the sport's governing body FIA said Russian and Belarusian drivers would be allowed to compete in a "neutral capacity" under an "FIA flag" following an extraordinary meeting of its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

READ | Russia's Nikita Mazepin is cleared to race in F1, but he'll have to do it under a neutral flag

By targeting the nationality of the licenses, Motorsport UK's decision will stop Russian and Belarusian drivers from racing in Britain, regardless of the flag they compete under.

"We stand united with the people of Ukraine and the motorsport community following the invasion and the unacceptable actions that have unfolded," said Motorsport UK Chair David Richards, who attended Tuesday's WMSC meeting, in a statement.

"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)."

Motorsport UK said its decision was made in full consultation with the British Government and national sports governing bodies.

Mazepin, the only Russian on the Formula One grid, already faces an uncertain future after his US-owned Haas team removed all branding