FIA Formula 2 drivers Nobuharu Matsushita and Nikita Mazওepin have both escaped injury following a violent crash d♎uring 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 d🌃rivers were confirmed conscious after the accident and were subsequently taken to Sochi hospital for precautionary checks, which have reve🍨aled both avoided serious injuries.

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

Mazepin gets hefty grid drop for F2 finale

Mazepin has been h🦹anded 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 incideꦯnt.

An F2 statement read: "The incident began when Louis Delétraz arrived at the entrance of Turn 2 at an ex🎃cessively 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 resul✱ted in a collision with both Aitken and Nobuharu Matsushita.

“Both Mazepin and Matsu𒉰🐟shita 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 incid✅ent, which could have been much worse.”