Drivers from Russia and Belarus must participate under a neutral flag. That was already mandatory in 2021 in Formula 1 and Formula E, which are official world championships. This is because of a previous sentence from anti-doping agency WADA for Russia.
The FIA has ruled that Russian and Belarusian teams have been banned from participating for the time being, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There will also be no competitions in those countries for the time being. For example, it was previously announced that the Formula 1 race in Sochi has been canceled and will most likely be replaced by a race in the Middle East.
Mazepin
Nikita Mazepin, driver with the Formula 1 team of Haas, already drove under a neutral flag last year and could therefore continue in the premier class. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. His father Dmitry and his company are the major financier of the American racing stable, which already removed those sponsorship statements from the car during the last day of testing in Barcelona. Mazepin senior also has close ties to the Kremlin.
Sign up for the Formula 1 newsletter and don’t miss out on all the news about Max Verstappen next season.
The Dutch motorsport team MP Motorsport will have three Russian drivers on the grid next season, in Formula 3, Formula Regional and the Spanish Formula 4 championship. So those drivers can just stay on.
