Source: WADA Still Investigating Haas Livery Despite FIA Saying It’s Legal

With WADA still investigating the matter, the Haas F1 Team may yet be penalised and could be forced to change the livery.

Nikita Mazepin Haas F1 - Formula1news.co.uk

The legality of the Haas F1 Team’s 2021 livery is still being investigated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a source at the international doping watchdog told Formula1News.co.uk on Thursday.

On 5 March, it transpired that WADA was investigating if the Haas F1 Team’s recently unveiled 2021 livery is in violation of the two-year ban on Russian athletes competing under the Russian flag or having it featured on their sports attire.

READ: Sebastian Vettel Looking Forward To Racing With Mercedes Power

“WADA is aware of this matter and is looking into it with the relevant authorities,” the international doping watchdog told Formula1News.co.uk on Friday.

Following WADA saying that it was investigating Haas’ livery last week, the FIA revealed that the American racing outfit had already clarified with them that the livery is not in violation of the aforementioned ban.

“The team has clarified the livery with the FIA – the CAS decision does not prohibit the use of the colours of the Russian flag,” the FIA told Motorsport.com.

However, with WADA still investigating the matter, Haas may yet be penalised and could be forced to change the livery.

The livery in question is based on the colours of the Russian flag, arranged in a way to resemble the flag itself on many areas of the car, particularly the front-wing.

This raised eyebrows immediately after the livery was unveiled last week, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had announced a two-year ban for Russian athletes at world championship sporting events in December.

Article continues below

The ban, which relates to state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics and was imposed following a WADA investigation, means that Russian athletes, including racing drivers, won’t be allowed to compete under their national flag or have it on display at official Championship events.

Due to the CAS ruling, Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin won’t be allowed to race under the Russian flag this upcoming season.

Instead, he will most likely race as a “neutral athlete from Russia”, though he said last week that he is yet to make a final decision on how exactly he wants to be classified.

The contents of this article can only be reused and republished by other media outlets in accordance with our Copyright Policy.

READ: Ferrari Unveil SF21 As They Look To Mount 2021 Recovery