Haas is still “an American team” despite its new Russia-themed livery for 2021, Guenther Steiner has claimed.
Amid the financial fallout from Covid-19 last year, the team forged a partnership with chemical company Uralkali, who are connected to Dmitry Mazepin, father of new driver Nikita.
However, the new red, white and blue colour-scheme has come under fire, with claims Haas are circumventing a ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency that prevents Mazepin from competing under the Russian flag.
“No, we didn’t circumvent anything,” Steiner explained after the livery launch last week. “We came up with this livery already last year, before the ruling from WADA about the Russian flag.
“Obviously, we cannot display the Russian flag as the Russian flag but you can use the colours on the car. In the end, it’s the athlete which cannot display the Russian flag, not the team. The team is an American team.”
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WADA has since confirmed to RaceFans it is looking into the matter with the “relevant authorities”, which in this case would be the FIA.
“You’re always in contact with the FIA about things like this, it’s part of the job, so we walked it through with them,” the Haas chief said on if the governing body had permitted the design.
“But I don’t think they can approve it because it’s a WADA rule, not an FIA rule.”
Finally, Steiner denied reiterated an earlier point as he denied the new livery meant Haas were moving away from their American roots.
“No I wouldn’t say that one,” he said. “We pushed down as I explained a few times last year on a commercial avenue.
“We have got something to sell – sponsorship – and we need to do that. That is our way forward and I don’t think it has got anything to do at the moment with nationality.”