The UK governing body for motorsport today bans Russian license holders from competing in the UK.
In a statement released yesterday, the FIA announced that they will permit individuals from Russia to compete in a neutral capacity and under the “FIA flag”.
The FIA claimed to have made this decision “in accordance with the International Olympic Committee recommendations”. However the IOC in fact recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes are excluded from competing in all international events.
In a statement released today, the Chair of Motorsport UK has announced:
“Recognition of licences issued by the Russian Automobile Federation [RAF] and the Belarus Automobile Federation [BAF] is suspended in the UK. As a consequence:
- No Russian/Belarusian licensed teams are approved to enter motorsport competitions In the UK
- No Russian/Belarusian licensed competitors and officials are approved to participate in UK motorsport events
- No Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags [on uniform, equipment and car] to be displayed at motorsport UK permitted events”
The rules imposed here by Motorsport UK are significantly tougher than those set by the FIA and do in fact follow the recommendations by the IOC.
The result of this is that if Haas decide to retain Russian driver Nikita Mazepin for the 2022 season, he will not be permitted to participate in the British GP held at Silverstone.
This will effect all events held in the UK and have ramifications for drivers in F1 feeder series, namely Alexander Smolyar in Formula 3 and Irina Sidorkova in W Series.
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