Where is this thread going?
Weren't lots of folks saying to "keep politics out of sport" when LH started talking about Breonna Taylor?
The reaction to this Russian-themed livery and the team's American beginnings really seem to have struck a nerve for some.
Relax folks!...this is just motorsport and a car livery.
While it is okay to see the irony...don't go making a bigger deal about it than it needs to be.
Mercedes is a German team based in the UK and with a British and Finnish driver.
Nobody is mad about that.
It's like I said earlier, Papa Maezpin made this choice as to how he, as the owner of the team's main sponsor, wanted the car to look. He had the same degree of deliberation in having nothing but the Russian flag on the car as Hamilton did in his choice of wardrobe. Both wanted to be provocative in their actions, with little if any, potential concern about maintaining the neutral atmosphere that is supposed to go with any sport, not just F1. There is no irony here, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Maezpin said so openly if he hasn't already. People like Maezpin and Hamilton, in their own vastly different ways, don't believe in neutrality for the most part. You either support them, or you oppose them. The main difference is Maezpin is more apt to allow indifference than Hamilton.
Maezpin loves Russia first and foremost, and hates rules that says Russian athletes can't show it to the same degree as other nations athletes. This car reflects his defiance and pride, as a means to vent his and fellow Russians frustrations with WADA and their ruling. Haas as I said, has little to no choice, except to maybe run a blank car. Which may be what they have to do in the end, be it by choice or by legal decree.
Finally, for the record, I don't think every Russian under the sun is evil, and I don't think the Russians think likewise of every American like me. At least I hope not. We each love our respective homelands that much more, which can lead to such thoughts and feelings like what we see here.