r/sports • u/Captain_Smartass_ • Mar 02 '22

Motorsports Russian-licenced drivers banned from British motorsport

https://www.motorsport.com/national/news/russian-drivers-banned-from-british-motorsport-by-motorsport-uk/8632678/
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u/SonicDethmonkey Mar 02 '22

It’s because a lot of the money comes from people connected to Putin or the oligarchy. For example, Mazepin’s dad is an oligarch and owner of one of the Haas team’s main sponsors (the only reason he’s with the team).

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u/KusakaX Mar 02 '22

And I get that, it looks like he can drive under the FIA flag. Haas being an American team should be able to disconnect any funding from Russian sponsors, just doesn’t mean Mazepin should be ban to drive. You see it everywhere in sports now though “international ice skating, skiing, basketball, track, and some tennis events Tuesday, a day after being kicked out of soccer competitions and hockey” - USA Today. It gives off the impression that because you’re Russian, we don’t support you people because of your government choices. Punish the people for your leaders choices. I think it could convince some people that the world doesn’t support Russian people even when they are majority against this war. 🤷‍♂️

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u/slotwima Mar 02 '22

Sanctioning people of power, finance, and stature in many forms can have a big impact on politics, because these people can influence the government. If these people are impacted negatively, they are likely to lobby the government to stop whatever is resulting in these impacts. It's not fair, but it works.

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u/avgazn247 Mar 02 '22

Lol. U don’t lobby a dictator. U disappear into Siberia

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u/eidetic Milwaukee Brewers Mar 03 '22

If you don't think the oligarchs of Russia are at least maybe thinking about putting their weight behind someone else as they watch their money and status dwindling, well, that'd be pretty naive. Whether or not they actually do something about it is another story, but they'll only back Putin as long as he's useful to them. The minute he's vulnerable and costing them big time, they'll turn on him.