BARCELONA, Spain – Russian driver Nikita Mazepin’s future at Haas Components One staff is unsure after the staff confirmed it is going to decide on the Uralkali sponsorship deal, which funds Mazepin’s place on the staff, subsequent week.
Haas took half in pre-season testing in a white automobile on Friday after Russia’s Uralkali model and emblem had been dropped from its automobile within the wake of Russia’s navy invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, F1 canceled the Russian Grand Prix in September.
Russian forces continued their advance into Ukraine on Friday, inflicting widespread condemnation and sanctions from world leaders.
Uralkali founder Dmitry Mazepin, Nikita’s father, was one of many enterprise leaders who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday to debate sanctions towards the nation.
When requested about Nikita Mazepin’s situation throughout a media name on Friday, Haas staff boss Günter Steiner mentioned, “The issue have to be resolved.
“Not every little thing of us right here depends upon what occurs. There are governments concerned, and I’ve no authority over them, and we additionally have to see how the scenario in Ukraine develops.”
Shortly after Steiner spoke to the media on Friday, Nikita Mazepin tweeted: “To my followers and followers – it is a robust time and I am not answerable for a lot of what’s mentioned and carried out.
“I select to concentrate on what I can management by working laborious and doing my finest for @HaasF1Team.
“My deepest thanks to your understanding and help.”
Steiner mentioned the staff was not involved with Michael Andretti at any time on Thursday. Andretti is trying to be a part of F1 together with his personal staff in 2024, however many have steered he may very well be a viable alternative for Uralcalli if Haas must discover a new title accomplice for this season.
He additionally mentioned the US authorities had not contacted the staff in regards to the sponsorship.
Discussions on the standing of Mazepin and Uralkali will proceed subsequent week. The subsequent time Haas will likely be on monitor after Friday is March 8, when pre-season testing begins in Bahrain.
“We have now to type out all of the authorized issues,” Steiner mentioned. “We’ll work via it subsequent week.
“I am not going to enter it as we speak, we made the choice yesterday with our staff companions that that is what we will do. I have to work on the remaining subsequent week.”
Uralkali’s contract performed a key function in Haas staying on the grid in 2020, however Steiner mentioned he assured everybody within the staff that his future is safe it doesn’t matter what occurs with the Uralcalli deal.
Requested how a lot of a success it might be financially, he mentioned: “It is a headache, however it’s not one thing that bothers the staff on the competitors aspect.
“Financially, we’re nice. It has no implementation on the staff, how we handle it, how we do it, how we plan for the season.
“There are extra methods to get funding. So there isn’t any downside with that.”
Haas spent most Thursdays setting a plan of action and confirmed within the night that the model can be out of the automobile for Friday’s session, a call that was postponed as a result of time distinction to Haas Automation’s California headquarters.
Steiner mentioned the staff wished to ensure it responded in the appropriate manner.
“We did not plan for this as a result of till it occurs … we clearly watched the scenario, we’re not simply sitting there ignorantly ready for one thing to occur,” he mentioned.
“When that occurs, it’s a must to see the way it evolves. I’ve by no means skilled one thing like this, so I did not know the way it might go down.
“We’ll handle it the identical manner going ahead.”
