F1 News, Reports and Race Results

F1 drivers come together for Ukraine in Bahrain

A day before teams resume their pre-season preparations in Bahrain, Formula 1's class of 2022 came together on Wednesday evening at Sakhir to show its support for Ukraine.

The group, from which Lewis Hamilton was missing as the Briton had not yet arrived in Bahrain, sported a 'No War' t-shirt and stood in front of a flag of Ukraine, showing its support for the country recently invaded by Russia.

Earlier in the day, ousted Haas driver Nikita Mazepin had held a press conference in which he denounced the US outfit's decision to fire him and to sever ties with Russian title sponsor Uralkali, insisting Haas had "no legal reason" to terminate his contract.

However, it came to light on Wednesday afternoon that Mazepin and his father Dmitry Mazepin - the majority shareholder of Uralkali – had both been added to the European Union's sanction list of Russian oligarchs.

The EU argued that Dmitry Mazepin's meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin on February 24 – the day Russia invaded Ukraine - was evidence that he is "supporting or implementing actions or policies" which threaten Ukraine.

The sanctions imposed on Russia's oligarchs typically include travel restrictions as well as the freeze of assets outside of Russia.

Formula 1's action of solidarity in Bahrain was preceded on Tuesday by news that Ferrari had donated €1 million to a special fund administered by the Emilia-Romagna region to help those Ukrainians whose lives have been impacted by the conflict.

"Ferrari stands alongside everyone in Ukraine affected by this ongoing humanitarian crisis," said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. "While we hope for a rapid return to dialogue and a peaceful solution, we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of everyone affected.

"Our thoughts and support go out to them. We are playing our small part alongside the institutions that are bringing immediate relief to this situation."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Marko: ‘No chance at all’ for Red Bull in Las Vegas

Helmut Marko believes that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are unlikely to challenge for victory…

2 hours ago

GM revives bid to join F1 with accelerated talks for 2026 entry

Automotive giant General Motors is reportedly back in the game as a potential entrant in…

4 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Thursday's action in pictures

The opening day of running at the Las Vegas GP was a smooth but chilly…

5 hours ago

Williams' headaches persist into Vegas practice

Williams is continuing to fight uphill battles this weekend in Las Vegas as a knock-on…

6 hours ago

Ferrari's Sainz 'not satisfied with where we are' in Vegas

It was a solid start to the Las Vegas weekend for Ferrari with Carlos Sainz…

7 hours ago

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

9 hours ago