– The FIA, the world governing body for motorsport, has lifted the restrictions against Russian and Belarusian athletes. Thus, drivers from these two countries are once again allowed to participate in official FIA championships under their own flag and no longer have to sign a neutrality agreement as before.
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This emerges from an email from the FIA’s legal department to all members, license holders, participants, officials, and organizers, informing about a decision by the World Council WMSC made on August 3.
After the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the FIA had implemented so-called “emergency measures” and banned drivers from Russia and Belarus – unless they competed under a neutral FIA flag and signed a corresponding neutrality declaration.
This has now been reversed: “After consultations, the WMSC has decided to revise the FIA emergency measures and lift the restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, individual participants, and officials, as well as the provisions regarding the display of their national symbols, colors, flags, and the playing of their anthems.”
Races in Russia still banned
Specifically, this means that Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, individual participants, and officials “may participate without restrictions in international competitions and zone competitions.” The obligation to sign a neutrality declaration is also waived.
Furthermore, “the display of Russian and Belarusian national symbols, colors, flags (on racing suits, equipment, and vehicles) as well as the playing of their anthems at international competitions and zone competitions is again permitted.”
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However, the ban against the two nations is not completely lifted. Because international competitions are still not allowed to take place on the territory of Russia and Belarus. A comeback of the Russian Grand Prix in Formula 1 is therefore not expected in the foreseeable future.
No circumvention of national rules
In this context, the FIA points out “that the participation of Russian and Belarusian drivers, participants, and officials in a particular country remains subject to compliance with all applicable supranational, national, and local laws.” This means: The FIA cannot circumvent national entry bans or other restrictions.
“The FIA continues to closely monitor the events in Ukraine and reserves the right to take further steps or measures in the future – including all necessary steps to fulfill its obligations under applicable sanction rules and/or contracts to which the FIA is a party.”
Photo gallery: Formula 1 races that had to be canceled
The Ukraine conflict caused Russia to disappear from the Formula 1 map. The race in Sochi was canceled in 2022 and contracts for all further races were annulled. Also, the planned switch to Igora Drive near St. Petersburg in 2023 did not take place.
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Nikita Masepin, who was supposed to compete in the 2022 Formula 1 season for Haas, was replaced by Kevin Magnussen before the season started, while Ferrari test driver Robert Schwarzman raced under the flag of his birth country Israel. Formula 1, however, has had no contact with Belarus so far.
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