Vettel drops TRNC flag from crash helmet

Four-time Formula 1 world champion and current Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel has removed the TRNC flag from his helmet, after the Cyprus Automobile Association lodged a complaint to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The organisation filed a complaint against Vettel on Friday after he was seen sporting a helmet displaying the flag of the breakaway state in the north during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

A written announcement by the Cyprus Automobile Association said that FIA head Mohamed Ben Sulayem was in touch with head Antonis Michaelides, assuring him that he saw to it personally that the flag would be removed.

The German driver replaced his regular helmet colours with a special ‘No War’ design for testing, as drivers came together to express their solidarity with Ukraine. However, alongside the Ukrainian flag, his helmet also displayed the controversial flag.