The extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council last night and the consequent decisions of the FIA against the Russia for the war in Ukraine provoked the first reactions. The Russian Motor Federation (RAF) has criticized the cancellation of the Sochi Grand Prix from the calendar. Disappointment which, in the Russian communiqué, is counterbalanced by the satisfaction of seeing Nikita running again Mazepin, albeit under the FIA banner. Totally banishing him and the various Shwartzman and Kvyat would have been “discriminatory and contrary to the statute of the FIA“, As stated in the RAF note.
“The Russian Automobile Federation has considered the possible decision to exclude Russian athletes from participating in competitions such as discriminatory and contrary to the FIA statutewhich in paragraph 1.2 affirms to promote the protection of human rights and human dignity and not to discriminate on grounds of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinions, marital status or disability in its activities. […] The Russian Automobile Federation believes that all sporting bodies, including the RAF and the FIA, must hire one neutral position on these issues, focus on performance and not use it as a tool for political pressure. In the current situation, the priority of the RAF is to allow Russian sportsmen to participate in motor racing internationally. Viktor Nikolaevich Kiryanov, the president of the RAF, emphasized this in his speech at the World Motor Sport Council meeting, and called on members to allow Russian sportsmen to participate in races under the neutral flag. Importantly, the question of the suspension of the sporting powers of the Russian Automobile Federation, even put to the vote, did not find the support of the majority of the FIA World Council. Thus, the RAF continues to fulfill its duties as the National Motoring Federation recognized by the FIA and will continue to defend the interests of Russian athletes and Russian motorsport“.
The FIA has had a softer stance towards the drivers, but the federations of the other nations are offering a far tougher reaction. The United Kingdom and Finland have in fact banned the Russians and Belarusians from any competition, and therefore – this being the case – Mazepin could not race at Silverstone. If other countries follow suit, the FIA may be forced to review its decisions.
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