Haas Makes Decision on Uralkali Livery, Nikita Mazepin for Final Day of Testing

The team's title sponsor is Dmitry Mazepin's Russian-based company, and his son drives for the Formula One team.

Joan Monfort/AP Photo

Haas F1 Team announced in a statement it will drop its Uralkali livery for the third day of preseason testing at Circuit de Barcelona—Catalunya, electing to drive a plain white car instead.

However, it remained firm that it would stick to the planned driver format: Nikita Mazepin in the morning and Mick Schumacher in the afternoon. 

The team's title sponsor is Dmitry Mazepin's company, Uralkali. Mazepin is known as a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, and one of the president’s allies, Sergei Chemezov, has been a chairman within the company for several years. 

The move comes as questions loom over Formula One about participating in the Russian Grand Prix as the country invaded and attacked Ukraine earlier Thursday. Sebastian Vettel said he will not race in the Grand Prix if the sport decides to move forward with holding the event, while Max Verstappen called for it to be canceled. 

“I think when a country is at war it’s not correct to race there, that’s for sure,” Verstappen said. “But it’s not only what I think, it’s the whole paddock [that is] going to decide what we are going to do next.”

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali will reportedly meet with the 10 team principals Thursday evening to discuss the Russian Grand Prix, which is slated for Sept. 25 at the Sochi Autodrom. 

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