F1 Rejects Karting Champ Kutskov Over Nationality

Formula 1 teams refuse Kirill Kutskov, the karting champion, due to his nationality.

Formula 1 has turned away another Russian driver.

When the Ukraine-Russia conflict erupted, Haas F1 ousted Nikita Mazepin and his sponsor Uralkali—as F1 removed the Russian GP and imposed restrictions on other Russian drivers sanctioned by the FIA.

Now, the new world karting champion Kirill Kutskov, who races under the flag of Kyrgyzstan, has found that Formula 1 teams are not even interested in speaking with him.

“At the FIA gala ceremony, we spoke with Christian Horner after Max Verstappen handed him his trophy (on the left in the photo),” explains Ilya, the father of 15-year-old Kirill.

“When I began to introduce my son, he responded ‘Yes, I know Kirill, we follow all the races.’ He told him ‘As soon as you have another passport, call us and we will bring you to Red Bull.'”

“Maybe he was joking, maybe not—who knows?”

Kutskov’s karting team won the 2023 World Championship with DPK Racing, which was partly funded by Fernando Alonso and his karting chassis organization.

“He co-financed the team,” adds Ilya Kutskov, “and thanks to that, they were able to hire Kirill for a season and win the world championship. A successful investment.”

“But then they told us, ‘Guys, the current situation is that we can no longer take you under our wing. He’s a deserving driver, but it’s all about the passport and politics.'”

“McLaren said the same thing, and Williams didn’t even bother to talk to us.”