The FIA has reacted to the war in Ukraine, cancelling the Russian Grand Prix but not excluding Russian drivers from its racing series
The FIA, the world governing body for motor sport, decided at a special meeting of its World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday evening to cancel the 2022 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, but to allow Russian racing drivers to continue to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
Nikita Masepin (Haas) is currently the only Russian driver in the field – and at least on the part of the FIA he does not have to vacate his cockpit. However, he is no longer allowed to compete under the Russian flag, which is now banned (just like the national anthem) at all FIA-sanctioned events.
Whether Masepin will continue to drive Formula 1 remains open. Because even if no obstacles are put in his way by the FIA, his American employer, the Haas team, could terminate their cooperation with him. Haas was not prepared to comment when asked on Tuesday evening.
Masepin and other Russian and Belarusian racers in other FIA motorsport series will still be allowed to compete, but only under a neutral FIA flag. Russian and Belarusian “national teams”, as it is called in the FIA press release, on the other hand, will be excluded from all FIA competitions with immediate effect.
In addition, after an initially vaguely worded statement by Formula One, the FIA has now finally decided to cancel the Russian Grand Prix, which would have taken place in Sochi on 25 September, due to “force majeure”. No more FIA-sanctioned motor sport events are permitted in Russia or Belarus until further notice.
This is the FIA’s reaction to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. FIA President Mohammed bin Sulyaem says: “We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those who are suffering the consequences of what is happening in Ukraine right now.
