America’s Only F1 Racing Team Reveals Its New Russian Flag Livery

The idea of an American Formula One team has been something sought after by both fans and the racing fraternity for decades, and it finally happened when Gene Haas decided to enter the sport in 2016. America was proud, but the feeling didn’t last long. Today, the team unveiled its new challenger featuring red, white, and blue colors throughout, but with an interesting—Russian—twist. And controversially so, because Russian national imagery is banned from international sports due to a major doping scandal, making the 2021 car borderline illegal. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also the flag of its most controversial driver: Nikita Mazepin.

Mazepin’s arrival in F1 as a 2021 rookie caused for a lot of talk in the paddock—some about achievement, when your teammate is Mick actual Schumacher—and with a rap sheet that included assaulting a rival in a junior series to posting a video of himself groping a woman in Dubai. The latter led his own team to describe his actions as abhorrent. As a Russian athlete, he is also required to race under a neutral nationality and without using national imagery 

The team is now rebranded as Uralkali Haas, with the title sponsor being Mazepin’s father, Dmitri Mazepin’s company. Uralkali’s company colors are green and red, so the decision to brand the car with the Russian flag scheme is unquestionably based on nationality, with the only other sponsor being Mick Schumacher’s personal relationship to 1&1, an internet service provided whose logo is navy blue.

Haas struggled for money during 2020 and ultimately replaced both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen for financial reasons, saying they needed to bring in new drivers to fund the team. Mazepin, who came fifth in last year’s Formula 2 championship, amassing 11 penalty points and nearly being banned from completing the season, represents a huge funding opportunity via his billionaire father and a PR black hole from his own conduct.

Additional controversy unrelated to Nikita comes from international sporting bodies having banned Russian athletes from competing under their country’s flag after mass doping was discovered. The Russian motorsport federation clarified last month that drivers cannot use Russian national emblems on liveries or helmet designs, as part of being unable to represent the country.

According to a report by Racefans, however, it appears the FIA has been made aware of the Haas livery, and it’s been deemed compliant by the governing body due to a loophole in the rules. Still, it remains to be seen whether this livery will fly by the time F1 gets to Bahrain testing.

The official wording is that it is not permitted to “publicly display the flag of the Russian Federation (current or historical), the name “Russia” or any national emblem or national symbol on their clothing at any official facilities or in other areas controlled by the FIA or the organizers of FIA competitions”—which does leave, possibly, the aforementioned loophole for liveries, should Mazepin’s German teammate races in the same trim.

Money talks, comrades.

Want to talk about controversial F1 liveries? You can mail me at [email protected]

  • RELATED

    Gene Haas Pulled Grosjean's IndyCar Ride After F1 Crash Out of Fear of Facing 'Widow or His Kids'
    Boss Haas, who owns an F1 and NASCAR team, says he can't stomach endangering the driver's life again.

    READ NOW

  • RELATED

    Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen Both Out at Haas F1 After 2020
    The grid's lone American team will have an all-new driver lineup next season.

    READ NOW

  • RELATED

    How a Stray Plastic Bag Ruined Haas F1 Team's Singapore Grand Prix
    Littering isn't just bad for the environment; it's also bad for America's only Formula 1 team.

    READ NOW

  • RELATED

    Aston Martin Says Return to F1 Will Bring Trickle-Down Race Tech to Its Road Cars
    Racing Point's transformation to Aston Martin is much more than a rebadge, according to a chat we had with the team boss.

    READ NOW

  • RELATED

    Say Hello to the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12, This Year's Formula 1 Champion
    The W12 will certainly be the car to beat this year—but will anyone even come close?

    READ NOW

Source: Read Full Article