Matsushita and Mazepin uninjured after nasty F2 crash

FIA Formula 2 drivers Nobuharu Matsushita and Nikita Mazepin have both escaped injury following a violent crash during Sunday’s sprint race in Sochi.

The pair collided on the opening lap of the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix support race, with Mazepin running wide at Turn 2 before collecting Matsushita as he returned to the track, sending both hurtling into the barriers at high-speed on the outside of the corner.

Mazepin was able to get to get out of his ART Grand Prix car unaided, while Carlin’s Matsushita was attended to by circuit medical crews with the race immediately suspended.

Both drivers were confirmed conscious after the accident and were subsequently taken to Sochi hospital for precautionary checks, which have revealed both avoided serious injuries.

Mazepin was released having been declared fit, while Matsushuta will remain in hospital overnight before undergoing a second precautionary CT scan on Monday.

Mazepin gets hefty grid drop for F2 finale

Mazepin has been handed a 15-place grid drop for the final round of the F2 season at Yas Marina in November after being found to be at fault for the incident.

An F2 statement read: "The incident began when Louis Delétraz arrived at the entrance of Turn 2 at an excessively high speed and was unable to negotiate the corner.

“Subsequently, Mazepin forced Jack Aitken off the track. The Campos Racing driver successfully negotiated the Styrofoam blocks in the runoff area, as directed by the Race Director’s notes, but Mazepin did not follow the same path and instead took a short cut, which resulted in a collision with both Aitken and Nobuharu Matsushita.

“Both Mazepin and Matsushita retired, which brought out a red flag.

“The ART Grand Prix driver was found to be at fault for the accident because, in the opinion of the stewards, he showed a total lack of due care for his fellow drivers and caused a bad incident, which could have been much worse.”