Russian Alexander Smolyar will not compete in the 2022 Formula 3 season – the reason being the cancellation of the European programme of his sponsor SMP Racing
“I stand by SMP Racing’s decision to end the European programme due to the unprecedented requirements imposed by the FIA [Automobile Federation] on Russian drivers in international competitions,” said Alexander Smolyar, who will not compete for MP Motorsport in Formula 3 in 2022. The FIA has drawn up a strict catalogue of conditions for Russian drivers.
Due to these requirements, SMP Racing has pulled the plug in Europe, which also affects Smolyar’s programme in the junior series. Due to the war of aggression on the part of Russia against Ukraine, the FIA has decided to only allow Russian drivers to compete under a neutral flag. Furthermore, they are not allowed to show the national flag in public or on social media. The same applies to racing drivers from Belarus.
Furthermore, all FIA competitions in the two countries have been cancelled, first and foremost the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Smolyar will not bow to these conditions and has accordingly pulled the ripcord: “I will not take part in Formula 3 or other international races this year. “
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support in these difficult times,” the Russian is further quoted as saying. Smolyar raced for ART in 2021 and finished sixth overall. In the winter, he switched to the Dutch racing team MP Motorsport, with whom he wanted to contest the 2022 season. Nothing came of it.
SMP Racing was founded by Boris Rotenberg, who also built up the SMP Bank of Russia. The British government imposed personal sanctions on the Russian and his nephew Igor on 23 February. Accordingly, their assets in the UK have been frozen and an entry ban imposed.
The company is supporting other riders such as W Series rider Irina Sidorkova, who was supposed to compete at the pre-season test in Barcelona but did not attend. In the premier class, Nikita Masepin has lost his Formula 1 cockpit to Kevin Magnussen.
Furthermore, the US racing team Haas has parted ways with the Russian sponsor Urankali. Masepin’s father Dimitri is also personally sanctioned by the European Union. What further consequences Russia’s war against Ukraine will have on motorsport remains to be seen.
