Ukraine has called on motorsport’s governing body to reconsider its decision to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian competitors at international events.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) last week removed a ban that had prevented competitors from the two countries from participating under their national flags and with their national anthems. The restrictions were introduced after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
According to the BBC, Ukraine’s minister of youth and sports wrote to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem asking the organization to reconsider the decision.
Ukraine’s Automobile Federation said the FIA’s move had “come as a complete surprise.”
An FIA spokesperson said Tuesday that the requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, teams and officials had been updated following a vote by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
“This follows an announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 7 and similar updates issued by other international sporting federations,” the spokesperson said.
“The FIA maintains its ban on organizing events and competitions in Russia and Belarus. The FIA continues to monitor the situation closely in Ukraine and reserves the right to update its position in the future.”
Russia, which once hosted a regular round of the Formula One championship in Sochi, has not hosted a grand prix since 2021.
The last Russian driver in Formula One was Nikita Mazepin, whose contract was terminated by U.S.-owned Haas in 2022. He has since competed in the Middle East under a neutral flag.
The IOC last month provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, a step seen as bringing Russia closer to reintegration into the Olympic movement ahead of the Los Angeles Games.
The FIA, the governing body for Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Three, Formula E and the World Rally Championship, as well as other international series, received full recognition from the IOC in 2013.
Boris Rotenberg, president of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF), hailed an important day for Russian motorsport when the FIA’s decision was announced.
“Sport and culture should be out of politics. They are the ones that unite peoples,” said Rotenberg, an oligarch who remains on the European Union’s sanctions list and is a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a statement on the RAF website.
“Justice has triumphed. We are grateful to the International Automobile Federation for the constructive dialogue and are ready to jointly resolve all pressing issues.”
