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Mazepin chooses Russia over motorsport: 'Personal considerations'

Mazepin chooses Russia over motorsport: 'Personal considerations'

20-09-2022 21:00 Last update: 21-09-2022 08:46
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GPblog.com

Former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin is unwilling to turn his back on his country to participate in international motorsport races. However, he can sympathise with colleagues who do choose to do so, he told the Russian RIA Sport.

Drivers from Russia, like many other athletes from the country, are not allowed to participate in international competitions without signing a written statement condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some drivers are willing to do so and choose to race under a different flag, for example.

Mazepin chooses Russia over international motorsport

Mazepin sympathises with his colleagues who make this choice, but says he is not prepared to do so himself. "We are athletes. Everyone makes their own choice and it should be respected. Zhiltsov is not the only one, Robert Shwartzman did the same. It is a matter of personal considerations. Whether you want to give up your country for sport and it is more important to you or not, everyone chooses for themselves, but I will not do it," the former Haas driver said firmly.

Recently, rally driver Zhiltsov changed the country he is racing for in order to compete in the Dakar Rally, after Ferrari junior Shwartzman did the same earlier in 2022. Both drivers have both Russian and Israeli citizenship and are now competing for Israel.