Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch new foundation: Former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has set out plans to launch his foundation ‘We compete as one’. It is backed by Uralkali, a former sponsor of team Haas. It will support athletes ‘forbidden’ from competing in the sport due to political reasons. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“Today, I’m announcing the creation of a foundation that will be devoted to helping athletes. Who, for political reasons out of their control, lost their ability to compete at the highest level. It will be funded by Uralkali. Using the money that had been intended for Formula 1 sponsorship this season,” Nikita Mazepin said.
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
“The foundation will allocate resources, both financial and non-financial. To those athletes who have spent their lives preparing for the Olympics, Paralympics, or other top events. Only to find that they were forbidden from competing and collectively punished just because of the passports they held.”
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
Today I am announcing the creation of a new foundation to help athletes who have been blocked from competing for political reasons. #WeCompeteAsOne
— Nikita Mazepin (@nikita_mazepin) March 9, 2022
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
“We will work to find jobs to provide worthy incomes. As many of these athletes have been counting on sponsorships following their championship performances which did not happen. We will also provide legal aid in cases where athletes wish to argue their status in the sport.”
“We will help them psychologically to cope with the sense of loss and emptiness that comes with being excluded from the sport that they love.”
This comes after a number of sports governing bodies took the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian teams. In some cases, athletes, from competing in their events following Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
However, Russian and Belarusian drivers are still free to compete in international motorsport. The FIA made it clear that drivers must race under a neutral flag of the organization. They should also sign a ‘driver commitment’ form. The form will state clauses that they will not sport the national symbols, colors, or flags of their country.
Despite all of this, Haas still terminated the contract of Nikita Mazepin as their driver. They also stripped off Uralkali as their sponsors. Uralkali is owned by Dmitry Mazepin, the father of Nikita Mazepin.
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
Uralkali have also demanded a refund of their sponsorship money. They claim to have already paid the money and will instead use it to fund Mazepin’s foundation, ‘We compete as one’.
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin’s foundation is a recognizable name
The name of Nikita Mazepin’s foundation ‘We compete as one’ is similar to the title of Formula 1’s equality initiative. The F1 initiative was launched in June 2020.
F1 said The ‘#WeRaceAsOne’ initiative looks to tackle ‘the biggest issues facing the sport and global communities’. F1’s Chairman and CEO Chase Carey said, “We will show our full support in fighting inequality throughout the weekend. And accelerate our own efforts to make Formula 1 more diverse and inclusive.”
“As a global sport, we must represent the diversity and social concerns of our fans. But we also need to listen more and understand what needs to be done and get on with delivering.”
Formula 1: Nikita Mazepin set to launch foundation ‘We compete as one’ to support forbidden Russian athletes – Check Out
