Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin might have to contest the 2021 F1 season as a “neutral athlete” as a result of the international anti-doping body banning Russia from being represented in numerous sports last year.
Nikolay Gryazin, another Russian racing driver, recently wasn’t allowed to race under the Russian flag in the Monte Carlo Rally – and it has been speculated Mazepin could also suffer the same fate.
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However, Russian F1 pundit Alexey Popov believes that there is a potential solution.
“There is a solution. In many sports now they compete under the flag of the national federation – in this case, it would be the Russian Automobile Federation,” Popov said.
“As for the anthem, we’ll see, but you’d have to be a strong optimist to imagine him winning at Haas in the first year.
“But the flag is everywhere – over the circuit, over the garages, on the overalls. It wouldn’t be very pleasant to be deprived of that,” the Russian F1 pundit and TV commentator added.
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