The future of Haas driver Nikita Mazepin is under even more threat after F1 bosses were urged to ban Russian licence holders from competing amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to start major military action last Thursday, and Ukraine's interior ministry confirmed 352 civilians have since been killed, including 14 children, while more than 1600 more people have been wounded.
Since the invasion began, a number of sporting governing bodies have opted to impose sanctions on Russia, including F1, with this season's Grand Prix in Sochi having been axed from the 2022 calendar.
However, FIA bosses have now been put under pressure to take things a step further.
According to Autosport, new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem wrote to the Automobile Federation of Ukraine [FA]) to pledge "full support", and received a response requesting action.
FAU President Leonid Kostyuchenko said the authority would prepare "possible measures of support from the FIA for the post-war period, when all state resources will be directed to recovery."
He also called upon the FIA to ban drivers racing with licenses issued by Russia and Belarus’s federations from racing in events outside their home countries.
Such a measure would essentially see Mazepin, 22, removed from the F1 roster, given he races under a licence from the Russian Automobile Federation.
The Moscow-born driver's future is already clouded by ambiguity after Haas removed the branding of its Russian title sponsor, Uralkali, from its car during pre-season testing in Barcelona last week.
Mazepin's father, Dmitry, is owner of the company.
With his future in doubt, Mazepin responded to uncertainty by tweeting: "To my fans and followers - it's a difficult time and I am not in control over a lot of what is being said and done. I'm choosing to focus on what I CAN control by working hard and doing my best for my HAAS. My deepest thanks for your understanding and support."
However, the post saw him heavily criticised for his perceived reluctance to condemn his country's actions.
He only drove for his team in Spain on the third and final day of testing, and the prospect of him lining up on the grid alongside German teammate Mick Schumacher for the opening race weekend in Bahrain on March 18-20 appears in serious doubt.
The youngster endured a difficult debut season in 2021, failing to land a single championship point, while 14th place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix represented his best finish.
